I Samuel
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, in order 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 weep you? and why eat you not? and
why is your heart grieved? am not I better to you 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 you will indeed look on the affliction
of yours handmaid, and remember me, and not forget yours handmaid, but will give
unto yours handmaid a male 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 spoke 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 will you be drunken? put away your wine from you.
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 yours handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint
and grief have I spoken until now.
1:17
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of
Israel grant you your petition that you have asked of him.
1:18
And she said, Let yours handmaid find grace in your 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 seems you
good; tarry until you 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 your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman that stood by
you here, praying unto the LORD.
1:27
For this child I prayed; and the LORD has given me my petition
which I asked of him:
1:28
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he
lives he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
2:1 And Hannah
prayed, and said, My heart rejoices in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD:
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in your salvation.
2:2 There
is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: 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 has born seven; and she that
has many children is waxed feeble.
2:6
The LORD kills, and makes alive: he brings down to the grave,
and brings up.
2:7 The
LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up.
2:8
He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts 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 has 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 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 fork of three teeth in his hand;
2:14
And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or
pot; all that the fork 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 you, 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 your soul desires; then he would answer
him, Nay; but you shall 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 you 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 all of you 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: all
of you 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 implore 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 says the LORD, Did I
plainly appear unto the house of your 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 your father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
2:29 Wherefore
kick all of you at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in
my habitation; and honour your 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 says, I said indeed that
your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me for ever: but
now the LORD says, 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 yours arm, and
the arm of your father's house, that there shall not be an old man in yours house.
2:32 And
you shall see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give
Israel: and there shall not be an old man in yours house for ever.
2:33
And the man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from mine
altar, shall be to consume yours eyes, and to grieve yours heart: and all the
increase of yours house shall die in the flower of their age.
2:34
And this shall be a sign unto you, that shall come upon
your 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
yours house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of
bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray you, 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 before 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 you called 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 you did 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 you did 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 you, that you shall say, Speak, LORD; for your servant hears. 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 your servant hears.
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 hears 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 knows; 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 show 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 has said unto
you? I pray you hide it not from me: God do so to you, and more also, if you hide
any thing from me of all the things that he said unto you.
3:18
And Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him.
And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seems 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 has 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 comes 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 dwells 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 means 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 has
come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there has not been such a
thing in time past.
4:8
Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these
mighty Gods? these are the Gods that stroke the Egyptians with all the plagues
in the wilderness.
4:9
Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O all of you Philistines,
that all of you 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 means 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
has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your 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 you have 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 next day, 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 next day 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 stroke
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 stroke
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 all of you send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty;
but in any way return him a trespass offering: then all of you 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 all of you shall make images of your emerods,
and images of your mice that ruin the land; and all of you shall give glory unto
the God of Israel: possibly he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off
your gods, and from off your land.
6:6
Wherefore then do all of you 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 milk giving
cattle, on which there has come no yoke, and tie the cattle 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 all of you 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 goes up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh,
then he has done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is
not his hand that stroke us: it was a chance that happened to us.
6:10
And the men did so; and took two milk giving cattle, 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 cattle 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
cattle 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 remains unto this day in the field of Joshua,
the Bethshemite.
6:19 And
he stroke the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the
LORD, even he stroke 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 all of you
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 spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying, If all of you 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 humiliated them; and they were smitten before Israel.
7:11 And
the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and stroke
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, Until now has 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
illegal gain, 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, you are old, and your sons walk
not in your 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 you: for they have not rejected you, 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 you.
8:9
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: nevertheless yet
protest solemnly unto them, and show 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
olive yards, 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 male servants, and your maidservants,
and your best young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
8:17
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and all of you shall
be his servants.
8:18 And
all of you shall cry out in that day because of your king which all of you 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 all of you 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 better 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 you, 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 says comes surely to pass:
now let us go thither; possibly he can show 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
(in time past in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God,
thus he spoke, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet
was in time past 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 all of you be come into the city, all of you
shall immediately find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the
people will not eat until he comes, because he does bless the sacrifice; and afterwards
they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time all of
you 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, in order 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
Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the
land of Benjamin, and you shall 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 has come unto me.
9:17
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold
the man whom I spoke to you 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 you, 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 all of you shall eat with me to day, and tomorrow I will let you go, and will
tell you all that is in yours heart.
9:20
And as for yours asses that were lost three days ago, set
not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel?
Is it not on you, and on all your 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 speak you 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 you, of which I said unto you, Set it by you.
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 you, and eat: for unto this time has it been kept for you 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 you 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 you still a while, that I may
show you 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 has anointed you to be captain
over his inheritance?
10:2
When you are departed from me to day, then you shall find
two men by Rachel's tomb in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say
unto you, The asses which you went to seek are found: and, lo, your father has
left the care of the asses, and sorrows for you, saying, What shall I do for my
son?
10:3 Then
shall you go on forward from thence, and you shall come to the plain of Tabor,
and there shall meet you 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 you, and give you two loaves of bread; which you shall receive
of their hands.
10:5 After
that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines:
and it shall come to pass, when you are come thither to the city, that you shall
meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and
a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
10:6 And
the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you shall prophesy with them, and
shall be turned into another man.
10:7
And let it be, when these signs are come unto you, that
you do as occasion serve you; for God is with you.
10:8
And you shall go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold,
I will come down unto you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices
of peace offerings: seven days shall you tarry, till I come to you, and show you
what you shall 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 in time past
saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to
another, What is this that has 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, Where went all of you? 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 you, 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 spoke, 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 says 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
all of you have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your
adversities and your tribulations; and all of you 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 has 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 all of you him whom
the LORD has 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 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 you.
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 you.
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 disturbs
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 comes 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
all of you say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow, by that time the sun be
hot, all of you shall have help. And the messengers came and showed it to the
men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
11:10
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come
out unto you, and all of you shall do with us all that seems good unto you.
11:11 And
it was so on the next day, 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: in order to day the LORD has 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
all of you said unto me, and have made a king over you.
12:2
And now, behold, the king walks 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, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed
us, neither have you 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 all of you 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 forgotten about 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 you.
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 all
of you dwelled safe.
12:12
And when all of you saw that Nahash the king of the children
of Ammon came against you, all of you 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 all of you have chosen,
and whom all of you have desired! and, behold, the LORD has set a king over you.
12:14 If
all of you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel
against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both all of you and also the king
that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God:
12:15
But if all of you 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 all of you may perceive and see that
your wickedness is great, which all of you 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 your servants unto the LORD your 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: all of you 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 all of you not aside: for then should all of you 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 has 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 has done for you.
12:25
But if all of you shall still do wickedly, all of you shall
be consumed, both all of you 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 stroke 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 here 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 have you done? And Saul said, Because
I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you came 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, You have done foolishly: you have not kept the commandment
of the LORD your God, which he commanded you: for now would the LORD have established
your kingdom upon Israel for ever.
13:14
But now your kingdom shall not continue: the LORD has sought
him a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be captain over
his people, because you have not kept that which the LORD commanded you.
13:15 And
Samuel arose, and got 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 leads 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 looks 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 on 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 situated northward opposite to Michmash, and the other
southward opposite to 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 armour bearer said unto him, Do all that is in yours heart: turn you; behold,
I am with you according to your 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 has 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 armour bearer, and said, Come
up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armour bearer,
Come up after me: for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
14:13 And
Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armour bearer after
him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armour bearer slew after him.
14:14 And
that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour bearer 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 armour bearer were not there.
14:18
And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring here 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 yours 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 eats 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, Your father strictly
charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eats any food
this day. And the people were faint.
14:29
Then said Jonathan, My father has 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 lest by any means 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 stroke 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, All of you 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 here 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
seems good unto you. Then said the priest, Let us draw near here unto God.
14:37 And
Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? will you deliver
them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.
14:38
And Saul said, Draw all of you near here, all the chief
of the people: and know and see wherein this sin has been this day.
14:39
For, as the LORD lives, which saves 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 all of you on one side,
and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto
Saul, Do what seems good unto you.
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 you have 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 you shall
surely die, Jonathan.
14:45
And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has
wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD lives, there shall
not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has 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 anywhere he turned himself, he vexed them.
14:48
And he gathered an host, and stroke 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 you
to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken you unto the voice
of the words of the LORD.
15:2
Thus says 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 strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not;
but slay both man and woman, infant and nursing infant, 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 all of you showed 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 stroke the Amalekites from Havilah until you come to Shur, that is opposite
to 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
repents me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following
me, and has 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 you of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
15:14
And Samuel said, What means 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 your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
15:16
Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell you what
the LORD has said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
15:17
And Samuel said, When you were little in yours own sight,
were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed you
king over Israel?
15:18
And the LORD sent you 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 did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but did fly upon the spoil, and did
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 your God in Gilgal.
15:22
And Samuel said, Has 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 you have rejected the word of the LORD, he
has also rejected you from being king.
15:24
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed
the commandment of the LORD, and your words: because I feared the people, and
obeyed their voice.
15:25
Now therefore, I pray you, pardon my sin, and return with
me, that I may worship the LORD.
15:26
And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with you: for
you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you 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 has rent the kingdom
of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbour of yours, that is
better than you.
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 you,
before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I
may worship the LORD your God.
15:31
So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the
LORD.
15:32 Then
said Samuel, Bring all of you here 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 the sword has made women childless, so shall your 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 will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected
him from reigning over Israel? fill yours horn with oil, and go, I will send you
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 you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
16:3 And
call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do: and you shall
anoint unto me him whom I name unto you.
16:4
And Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem.
And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Come you 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 sees
not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on
the heart.
16:8 Then
Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has
the LORD chosen this.
16:9
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither
has the LORD chosen this.
16:10
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD has not chosen these.
16:11
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all your children?
And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till
he comes here.
16:12 And
he sent, and brought him in. Now he was rosy, and likewise 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 troubles you.
16:16
Let our lord now command your servants, which are before
you, 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 you, that he shall play with his
hand, and you shall 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 your 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 armour bearer.
16:22
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray you, stand
before me; for he has 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 belongs 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 armour formed by chains; and the weight of the coat was five
thousand shekels of brass.
17:6
And he had protective leg armor 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 all
of you come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and all of
you 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 all of you 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 your brethren an ephah of this parched
corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of your brethren;
17:18
And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand,
and look how your 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 spoke 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 all of you seen this man
that has come up? surely to defy Israel is he comes up: and it shall be, that
the man who kills 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 spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, What
shall be done to the man that kills this Philistine, and takes 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 kills him.
17:28
And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke unto the
men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why came you down
here? and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your
pride, and the naughtiness of yours heart; for you are come down that you might
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 spoke after the
same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
17:31 And
when the words were heard which David spoke, 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; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
17:33
And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this
Philistine to fight with him: for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from
his youth.
17:34 And
David said unto Saul, Your 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 stroke him, and delivered
it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard,
and stroke him, and slew him.
17:36
Your servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised
Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has 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 you.
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 armour formed by chains.
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 pouch; 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 rosy, and of a fair countenance.
17:43 And
the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that you come 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 your flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
17:45 Then
said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and
with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of
the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
17:46
This day will the LORD deliver you into mine hand; and I
will strike you, and take yours head from you; and I will give the carcasses 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 saves 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 hastened, 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 stroke
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 stroke 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 you 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 your soul lives, O king, I cannot tell.
17:56
And the king said, Enquire you whose son the teenager 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 are you, you young man?
And David answered, I am the son of your 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 anywhere 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 timbrels, with joy, and with
instruments of music.
18:7
And the women answered one another as they played, and said,
Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
18:8
And Saul was very angry, 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 next day, 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 strike 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 you to wife: only be you 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, You shall this day be my son in law in the one of the two.
18:22 And
Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold,
the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you: now therefore be the
king's son in law.
18:23
And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David.
And David said, Seems 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
spoke David.
18:25 And
Saul said, Thus shall all of you say to David, The king desires 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 spoke 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 seeks to kill you: now therefore, I pray you,
take heed to yourself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide
yourself:
19:3 And
I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will
commune with my father of you; and what I see, that I will tell you.
19:4
And Jonathan spoke good of David unto Saul his father, and
said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because
he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been toward you 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: you saw it, and did rejoice: wherefore then
will you sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
19:6
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul
swore, As the LORD lives, he shall not be slain.
19:7
And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed 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 strike David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped
away out of Saul's presence, and he stroke 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 you
save not your life to night, tomorrow you shall 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 have you 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 you?
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 your
father, that he seeks my life?
20:2
And he said unto him, God forbid; you shall not die: behold,
my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me:
and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
20:3
And David swore moreover, and said, Your father certainly
knows that I have found grace in yours eyes; and he says, Let not Jonathan know
this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives,
there is but a step between me and death.
20:4
Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever your soul desires,
I will even do it for you.
20:5
And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new
moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at food: but let me go, that
I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
20:6
If your 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; your servant shall have peace:
but if he be very angry, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
20:8 Therefore
you shall deal kindly with your servant; for you have brought your servant into
a covenant of the LORD with you: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity,
slay me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?
20:9
And Jonathan said, Far be it from you: for if I knew certainly
that evil were determined by my father to come upon you, then would not I tell
it you?
20:10 Then
said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if your father answer you 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 tomorrow any time, or the third day, and, behold,
if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto you, and show it you;
20:13 The
LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do you evil,
then I will show it you, and send you away, that you may go in peace: and the
LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.
20:14
And you shall not only while yet I live show me the kindness
of the LORD, that I die not:
20:15
But also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house
for ever: no, not when the LORD has 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, Tomorrow is the new moon: and
you shall be missed, because your seat will be empty.
20:19
And when you have stayed three days, then you shall go down
quickly, and come to the place where you did hide yourself when the business was
in hand, and shall 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
you, take them; then come you: for there is peace to you, and no hurt; as the
LORD lives.
20:22 But
if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond you; go your way:
for the LORD has sent you away.
20:23
And as concerning the matter which you and I have spoken
of, behold, the LORD be between you 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 food.
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 spoke not any thing that day: for he thought,
Something has befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
20:27
And it came to pass on the next day, which was the second
day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his
son, Wherefore comes not the son of Jesse to food, 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 you; for our family has a sacrifice in the city; and
my brother, he has commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in
yours eyes, let me get away, I pray you, and see my brethren. Therefore he comes
not unto the king's table.
20:30
Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said
unto him, You son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that you have
chosen the son of Jesse to yours own confusion, and unto the confusion of your
mother's nakedness?
20:31
For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the ground, you
shall not be established, nor your 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 has he done?
20:33
And Saul cast a javelin at him to strike 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 food 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
you?
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 you, and between my seed
and your 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 are you alone, and no man with you?
21:2
And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king has commanded
me a business, and has said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business
whereabouts I send you, and what I have commanded you: and I have appointed my
servants to such and such a place.
21:3
Now therefore what is under yours 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, Truthfully
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 showbread, 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
yours 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 you slew in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind
the ephod: if you will 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 has 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 scratch on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle
fall down upon his beard.
21:14
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, all of you see the
man is mad: wherefore then have all of you brought him to me?
21:15
Have I need of mad men, that all of you 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 you, 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 you 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, all of you 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 shows me that my
son has made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is
sorry for me, or shows unto me that my son has 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, you son of Ahitub. And he answered,
Here I am, my lord.
22:13
And Saul said unto him, Why have all of you conspired against
me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and
have 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 your servants
as David, which is the king's son in law, and goes at your bidding, and is honourable
in yours 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 your servant
knew nothing of all this, less or more.
22:16
And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you,
and all your 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 show 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 you, 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, stroke he with the edge
of the sword, both men and women, children and infants, 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 showed 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 your father's house.
22:23
Abide you with me, fear not: for he that seeks my life seeks
your life: but with me you shall be in safeguard.
23:1
Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight
against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors.
23:2
Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go
and strike these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and strike 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 yours hand.
23:5 So David
and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away
their cattle, and stroke 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 has delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering
into a town that has 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 here the ephod.
23:10
Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, your servant has
certainly heard that Saul seeks 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 your servant
has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I plead to you, tell your 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 you up.
23:13 Then
David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah,
and went anywhere they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from
Keilah; and he ceased 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 you; and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next
unto you; and that also Saul my father knows.
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, Does
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 your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's
hand.
23:21 And
Saul said, Blessed be all of you of the LORD; for all of you have compassion on
me.
23:22 Go,
I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who
has seen him there: for it is told me that he deals very subtlely.
23:23
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places
where he hides himself, and come all of you 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 you, 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 you,
Behold, I will deliver yours enemy into yours hand, that you may do to him as
it shall seem good unto you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's
robe privately.
24:5 And
it came to pass afterward, that David's heart stroke 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 hear you men's words,
saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?
24:10
Behold, this day yours eyes have seen how that the LORD
had delivered you to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you:
but mine eye spared you; 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 your robe
in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and killed you not,
know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and
I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul to take it.
24:12
The LORD judge between me and you, and the LORD avenge me
of you: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
24:13
As says the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds
from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
24:14
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do
you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
24:15
The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and you,
and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of yours 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 your voice, my son David? And Saul
lifted up his voice, and wept.
24:17
And he said to David, You are more righteous than I: for
you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil.
24:18
And you have showed this day how that you have dealt well
with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into yours hand, you killed
me not.
24:19 For
if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward
you good for that you have done unto me this day.
24:20
And now, behold, I know well that you shall surely be king,
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in yours hand.
24:21
Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that you will not
cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's
house.
24:22 And
David swore unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men got 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 rude 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 all of you say to him that lives in prosperity, Peace be both to you,
and peace be to yours house, and peace be unto all that you have.
25:7
And now I have heard that you have shearers: now your 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 your young men, and they will show you. Wherefore let
the young men find favour in yours eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray
you, whatsoever comes to yours hand unto your servants, and to your son David.
25:9 And
when David's young men came, they spoke 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 these 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 all of you 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 you will 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 on 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 has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained
unto him: and he has 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 pisses 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 yours handmaid, I pray you, speak in yours audience,
and hear the words of yours handmaid.
25:25
Let not my lord, I pray you, 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 yours handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom you did send.
25:26 Now
therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, seeing the LORD
has withheld you from coming to shed blood, and from avenging yourself with yours
own hand, now let yours enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
25:27 And
now this blessing which yours handmaid has brought unto my lord, let it even be
given unto the young men that follow my lord.
25:28
I pray you, forgive the trespass of yours handmaid: for
the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fights the
battles of the LORD, and evil has not been found in you all your days.
25:29 Yet
a man has risen to pursue you, and to seek your soul: but the soul of my lord
shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God; and the souls of
yours 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 has spoken concerning you, and shall have appointed you ruler
over Israel;
25:31 That
this shall be no grief unto you, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that
you have shed blood causeless, or that my lord has avenged himself: but when the
LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember yours handmaid.
25:32 And
David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent you this
day to meet me:
25:33 And
blessed be your advice, and blessed be you, which have 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 lives, which
has kept me back from hurting you, except you had hasted and come to meet me,
surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisses
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 yours house; see, I have hearkened to
your voice, and have accepted your 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 stroke Nabal, that he died.
25:39 And
when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that has pleaded
the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept his servant from
evil: for the LORD has 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 spoke unto her, saying, David sent us unto you, to take you to him to wife.
25:41 And
she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let yours
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, Does
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 you.
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 has delivered yours enemy
into yours hand this day: now therefore let me strike him, I pray you, with the
spear even to the earth at once, and I will not strike 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 lives, the LORD shall
strike 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 you, take you 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 got 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 far off; a
great space being between them:
26:14
And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner,
saying, Answer you not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who are you that
cry to the king?
26:15
And David said to Abner, Are not you a valiant man? and
who is like to you in Israel? wherefore then have you not kept your lord the king?
for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.
26:16
This thing is not good that you have done. As the LORD lives,
all of you are worthy to die, because all of you 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 your voice,
my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
26:18
And he said, Wherefore does 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 you, let my lord the king hear the
words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred you 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 has come out to seek a flea, as when
one does hunt a partridge in the mountains.
26:21
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for
I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in yours 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 you into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth
mine hand against the LORD's anointed.
26:24
And, behold, as your 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 you, my son David: you
shall both do great things, and also shall 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
yours eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell
there: for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?
27:6
Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertains
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 you go to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
27:9
And David stroke 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, Where have all of you 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 inform against us, saying, So did David, and
so will be his manner all the while he dwells in the country of the Philistines.
27:12 And
Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly to detest
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 you assuredly, that you shall go out with me to battle, you and
your men.
28:2 And
David said to Achish, Surely you shall know what your servant can do. And Achish
said to David, Therefore will I make you 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 has
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 has 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 you, divine unto
me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto you.
28:9 And
the woman said unto him, Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off
those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore
then lay you a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
28:10
And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD lives,
there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.
28:11
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto you? And
he said, Bring me up Samuel.
28:12
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice:
and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul.
28:13 And
the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what saw you? 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 comes 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 have you 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 answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore
I have called you, that you may make known unto me what I shall do.
28:16
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then do you ask of me, seeing
the LORD is departed from you, and is become yours enemy?
28:17
And the LORD has done to him, as he spoke by me: for the
LORD has rent the kingdom out of yours hand, and given it to your neighbour, even
to David:
28:18 Because
you obeyed not the voice of the LORD, nor executed his fierce wrath upon Amalek,
therefore has the LORD done this thing unto you this day.
28:19
Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into
the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shall you and your sons be with me:
the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
28:20 Then
Saul fell immediately 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, yours handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have put
my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto your words which you spoke unto me.
28:22 Now
therefore, I pray you, hearken you also unto the voice of yours handmaid, and
let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength,
when you go on your 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 rear guard 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 has 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 angry with him;
and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that
he may go again to his place which you have 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 lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with
me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in you since the
day of your coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour you not.
29:7 Wherefore
now return, and go in peace, that you displease not the lords of the Philistines.
29:8 And
David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what have you found in your
servant so long as I have been with you 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 you are
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 your master's
servants that are come with you: and as soon as all of you 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 spoke 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 you, bring me here
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 you shall
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 belong you? and whence
are you? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and
my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.
30:14
We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and
upon the coast which belongs to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned
Ziklag with fire.
30:15
And David said to him, Can you bring me down to this company?
And he said, Swear unto me by God, that you will neither kill me, nor deliver
me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you 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 stroke 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
drove 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, All of you shall not do so, my brethren,
with that which the LORD has given us, who has 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 goes down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarries 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 known 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 Melchishua, 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 armour bearer, Draw your sword,
and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through,
and abuse me. But his armour bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore
Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
31:5
And when his armour bearer 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 armour bearer,
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 next day, 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.