09:001:001 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:
09:001:002 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.
09:001:003 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.
09:001:004 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to
Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
09:001:005 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved
Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
09:001:006 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her
fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
09:001:007 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.
09:001:008 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?
09:001:009 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.
09:001:010 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD,
and wept sore.
09:001:011 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.
09:001:012 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the
LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
09:001:013 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but
her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
09:001:014 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put
away thy wine from thee.
09:001:015 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.
09:001:016 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out
of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
09:001:017 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of
Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
09:001:018 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.
09:001:019 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.
09:001:020 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.
09:001:021 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer
unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
09:001:022 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.
09:001:023 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.
09:001:024 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.
09:001:025 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
09:001:026 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.
09:001:027 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my
petition which I asked of him:
09:001:028 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.
09:002:001 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.
09:002:002 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside
thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
09:002:003 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.
09:002:004 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that
stumbled are girded with strength.
09:002:005 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.
09:002:006 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the
grave, and bringeth up.
09:002:007 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and
lifteth up.
09:002:008 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.
09:002:009 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be
silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
09:002:010 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.
09:002:011 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did
minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
09:002:012 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the
LORD.
09:002:013 And the priest's 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;
09:002:014 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.
09:002:015 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.
09:002:016 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.
09:002:017 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the
LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
09:002:018 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded
with a linen ephod.
09:002:019 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.
09:002:020 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.
09:002:021 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare
three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the
LORD.
09:002:022 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.
09:002:023 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of
your evil dealings by all this people.
09:002:024 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make
the LORD's people to transgress.
09:002:025 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.
09:002:026 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with
the LORD, and also with men.
09:002:027 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?
09:002:028 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?
09:002:029 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?
09:002:030 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.
09:002:031 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.
09:002:032 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.
09:002:033 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.
09:002:034 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.
09:002:035 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.
09:002:036 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.
09:003:001 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.
09:003:002 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;
09:003:003 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;
09:003:004 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
09:003:005 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.
09:003:006 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.
09:003:007 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word
of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
09:003:008 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.
09:003:009 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.
09:003:010 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times,
Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
09:003:011 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.
09:003:012 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.
09:003:013 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.
09:003:014 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.
09:003:015 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of
the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
09:003:016 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he
answered, Here am I.
09:003:017 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.
09:003:018 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.
09:003:019 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none
of his words fall to the ground.
09:003:020 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel
was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
09:003:021 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed
himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
09:004:001 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.
09:004:002 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.
09:004:003 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.
09:004:004 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.
09:004:005 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.
09:004:006 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.
09:004:007 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.
09:004:008 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.
09:004:009 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.
09:004:010 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.
09:004:011 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
09:004:012 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.
09:004:013 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.
09:004:014 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.
09:004:015 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were
dim, that he could not see.
09:004:016 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?
09:004:017 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.
09:004:018 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.
09:004:019 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.
09:004:020 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.
09:004:021 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.
09:004:022 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark
of God is taken.
09:005:001 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from
Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
09:005:002 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it
into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
09:005:003 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.
09:005:004 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.
09:005:005 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.
09:005:006 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.
09:005:007 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.
09:005:008 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.
09:005:009 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.
09:005:010 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.
09:005:011 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.
09:005:012 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and
the cry of the city went up to heaven.
09:006:001 And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the
Philistines seven months.
09:006:002 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.
09:006:003 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.
09:006:004 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.
09:006:005 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.
09:006:006 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?
09:006:007 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:
09:006:008 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.
09:006:009 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.
09:006:010 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them
to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
09:006:011 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.
09:006:012 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.
09:006:013 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.
09:006:014 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.
09:006:015 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.
09:006:016 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they
returned to Ekron the same day.
09:006:017 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;
09:006:018 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.
09:006:019 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.
09:006:020 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?
09:006:021 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.
09:007:001 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.
09:007:002 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.
09:007:003 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.
09:007:004 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and
Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
09:007:005 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will
pray for you unto the LORD.
09:007:006 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.
09:007:007 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.
09:007:008 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.
09:007:009 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.
09:007:010 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.
09:007:011 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the
Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
09:007:012 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.
09:007:013 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.
09:007:014 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.
09:007:015 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
09:007:016 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and
Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
09:007:017 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.
09:008:001 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his
sons judges over Israel.
09:008:002 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his
second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
09:008:003 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after
lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
09:008:004 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together,
and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
09:008:005 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.
09:008:006 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a
king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
09:008:007 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.
09:008:008 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.
09:008:009 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.
09:008:010 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people
that asked of him a king.
09:008:011 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.
09:008:012 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.
09:008:013 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and
to be cooks, and to be bakers.
09:008:014 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your
oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
09:008:015 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your
vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
09:008:016 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants,
and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
09:008:017 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his
servants.
09:008:018 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.
09:008:019 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel;
and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
09:008:020 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.
09:008:021 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he
rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
09:008:022 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.
09:009:001 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.
09:009:002 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.
09:009:003 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.
09:009:004 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.
09:009:005 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.
09:009:006 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.
09:009:007 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?
09:009:008 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.
09:009:009 (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.)
09:009:010 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go.
So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
09:009:011 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?
09:009:012 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:
09:009:013 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.
09:009:014 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.
09:009:015 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul
came, saying,
09:009:016 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.
09:009:017 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.
09:009:018 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell
me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
09:009:019 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.
09:009:020 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?
09:009:021 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?
09:009:022 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.
09:009:023 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I
gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
09:009:024 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.
09:009:025 And when they were come down from the high place into the
city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
09:009:026 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.
09:009:027 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.
09:010:001 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?
09:010:002 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?
09:010:003 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:
09:010:004 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of
bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
09:010:005 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:
09:010:006 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou
shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
09:010:007 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that
thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
09:010:008 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.
09:010:009 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.
09:010:010 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.
09:010:011 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?
09:010:012 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?
09:010:013 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the
high place.
09:010:014 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.
09:010:015 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel
said unto you.
09:010:016 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.
09:010:017 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to
Mizpeh;
09:010:018 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:
09:010:019 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.
09:010:020 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come
near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
09:010:021 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.
09:010:022 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.
09:010:023 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.
09:010:024 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.
09:010:025 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.
09:010:026 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a
band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
09:010:027 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us?
And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.
09:011:001 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.
09:011:002 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.
09:011:003 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.
09:011:004 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.
09:011:005 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.
09:011:006 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those
tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
09:011:007 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.
09:011:008 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel
were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
09:011:009 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.
09:011:010 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.
09:011:011 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.
09:011:012 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.
09:011:013 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this
day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
09:011:014 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to
Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
09:011:015 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.
09:012:001 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.
09:012:002 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.
09:012:003 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.
09:012:004 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us,
neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
09:012:005 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.
09:012:006 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.
09:012:007 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.
09:012:008 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.
09:012:009 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.
09:012:010 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.
09:012:011 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.
09:012:012 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.
09:012:013 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom
ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
09:012:014 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:
09:012:015 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.
09:012:016 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD
will do before your eyes.
09:012:017 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.
09:012:018 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.
09:012:019 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.
09:012:020 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;
09:012:021 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain
things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
09:012:022 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.
09:012:023 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:
09:012:024 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your
heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
09:012:025 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed,
both ye and your king.
09:013:001 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years
over Israel,
09:013:002 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.
09:013:003 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.
09:013:004 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.
09:013:005 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.
09:013:006 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.
09:013:007 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.
09:013:008 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.
09:013:009 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and
peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
09:013:010 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.
09:013:011 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;
09:013:012 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.
09:013:013 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.
09:013:014 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.
09:013:015 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.
09:013:016 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.
09:013:017 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:
09:013:018 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.
09:013:019 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of
Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or
spears:
09:013:020 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to
sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his
mattock.
09:013:021 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.
09:013:022 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.
09:013:023 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage
of Michmash.
09:014:001 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.
09:014:002 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;
09:014:003 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.
09:014:004 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.
09:014:005 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against
Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
09:014:006 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.
09:014:007 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine
heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.
09:014:008 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these
men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
09:014:009 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.
09:014:010 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.
09:014:011 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.
09:014:012 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.
09:014:013 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.
09:014:014 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.
09:014:015 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.
09:014:016 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and,
behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one
another.
09:014:017 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.
09:014:018 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.
09:014:019 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.
09:014:020 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.
09:014:021 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.
09:014:022 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.
09:014:023 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed
over unto Bethaven.
09:014:024 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.
09:014:025 And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey
upon the ground.
09:014:026 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.
09:014:027 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.
09:014:028 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.
09:014:029 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.
09:014:030 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?
09:014:031 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to
Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
09:014:032 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.
09:014:033 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.
09:014:034 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.
09:014:035 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the
first altar that he built unto the LORD.
09:014:036 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.
09:014:037 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.
09:014:038 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the
people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
09:014:039 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.
09:014:040 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.
09:014:041 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a
perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
09:014:042 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And
Jonathan was taken.
09:014:043 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.
09:014:044 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt
surely die, Jonathan.
09:014:045 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.
09:014:046 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the
Philistines went to their own place.
09:014:047 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.
09:014:048 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and
delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
09:014:049 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:
09:014:050 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.
09:014:051 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner
was the son of Abiel.
09:014:052 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.
09:015:001 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.
09:015:002 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.
09:015:003 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.
09:015:004 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in
Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
09:015:005 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the
valley.
09:015:006 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.
09:015:007 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest
to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
09:015:008 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and
utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
09:015:009 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.
09:015:010 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
09:015:011 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.
09:015:012 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.
09:015:013 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be
thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
09:015:014 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the
sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
09:015:015 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.
09:015:016 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.
09:015:017 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?
09:015:018 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.
09:015:019 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?
09:015:020 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.
09:015:021 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.
09:015:022 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.
09:015:023 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.
09:015:024 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.
09:015:025 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again
with me, that I may worship the LORD.
09:015:026 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.
09:015:027 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the
skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
09:015:028 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.
09:015:029 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for
he is not a man, that he should repent.
09:015:030 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.
09:015:031 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the
LORD.
09:015:032 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.
09:015:033 And Samuel said, As the sword hath made women childless, so
shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in
pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
09:015:034 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to
Gibeah of Saul.
09:015:035 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.
09:016:001 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.
09:016:002 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.
09:016:003 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.
09:016:004 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?
09:016:005 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.
09:016:006 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on
Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.
09:016:007 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.
09:016:008 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel.
And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
09:016:009 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither
hath the LORD chosen this.
09:016:010 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
09:016:011 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.
09:016:012 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.
09:016:013 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.
09:016:014 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil
spirit from the LORD troubled him.
09:016:015 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil
spirit from God troubleth thee.
09:016:016 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.
09:016:017 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that
can play well, and bring him to me.
09:016:018 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.
09:016:019 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me
David thy son, which is with the sheep.
09:016:020 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.
09:016:021 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved
him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
09:016:022 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee,
stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
09:016:023 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.