CHAPTER 1
<<THE FIRST BOOK OF SĂM‑́Ū‑ĔL, OTHERWISE CALLED, THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS>> Now there was a certain man of Rā‑mă‑thā‑́ĭm–zō‑́phĭm, of mount Ē‑́phră‑ĭm, and his name [was] Ĕl‑kā‑́năh, the son of Jĕ‑rō‑́hăm, the son of Ĕ‑lī‑́hū, the son of Tō‑́hū, the son of Zŭph, an Ĕph‑́ră‑thīte:
2 And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hăn‑́năh, and the name of the other Pĕ‑nĭn‑́năh: and Pĕ‑nĭn‑́năh had children, but Hăn‑́năh had no children.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shī‑́lōh. And the two sons of Ē‑́lī, Hŏph‑́nī and Phĭn‑́ĕ‑hăṡ, the priests of the LORD, [were] there.
4 ¶ And when the time was that Ĕl‑kā‑́năh offered, he gave to Pĕ‑nĭn‑́năh his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 But unto Hăn‑́năh he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hăn‑́năh: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
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.
8 Then said Ĕl‑kā‑́năh her husband to her, Hăn‑́năh, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 ¶ So Hăn‑́năh rose up after they had eaten in Shī‑́lōh, and after they had drunk. Now Ē‑́lī the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10 And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine hand­maid, and remember me, and not forget thine hand­maid, but wilt give unto thine hand­maid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Ē‑́lī marked her mouth.
13 Now Hăn‑́năh, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Ē‑́lī thought she had been drunken.
14 And Ē‑́lī said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hăn‑́năh 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.
16 Count not thine hand­maid for a daughter of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Ē‑́lī answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine hand­maid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more [sad].
19 ¶ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Rā‑́măh: and Ĕl‑kā‑́năh knew Hăn‑́năh his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hăn‑́năh had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21 And the man Ĕl‑kā‑́năh, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 But Hăn‑́năh 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.
23 And Ĕl‑kā‑́năh her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24 ¶ And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ē‑́phäh of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shī‑́lōh: and the child [was] young.
25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Ē‑́lī.
26 And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
CHAPTER 2
And Hăn‑́năh prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 [There is] none holy as the LORD: for [there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like our God.
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.
4 The bows of the mighty men [are] broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5 [They that were] full have hired out them­selves for bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dung­hill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
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.
11 And Ĕl‑kā‑́năh went to Rā‑́măh to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Ē‑́lī the priest.
12 ¶ Now the sons of Ē‑́lī [were] sons of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl; they knew not the LORD.
13 And the priests’ custom with the people [was, that], when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh­hook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck [it] into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh­hook brought up the priest took for him­self. So they did in Shī‑́lōh unto all the Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl‑ītes that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And [if] any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and [then] take [as much] as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, [Nay]; but thou shalt give [it me] now: and if not, I will take [it] by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18 ¶ But Săm‑́ū‑ĕl ministered before the LORD, [being] a child, girded with a linen ē‑́phŏd.
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.
20 ¶ And Ē‑́lī blessed Ĕl‑kā‑́năh and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
21 And the LORD visited Hăn‑́năh, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Săm‑́ū‑ĕl grew before the LORD.
22 ¶ Now Ē‑́lī was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and how they lay with the women that assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24 Nay, my sons; for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’S people to transgress.
25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwith­standing they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26 And the child Săm‑́ū‑ĕl grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
27 ¶ And there came a man of God unto Ē‑́lī, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Ē‑́ġy̆pt in Phâr‑́a̅o̅h’s house?
28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl [to be] my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ē‑́phŏd before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl?
29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make your­selves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl my people?
30 Wherefore the LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl saith, I said indeed [that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32 And thou shalt see an enemy [in my] habitation, in all [the wealth] which [God] shall give Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33 And the man of thine, [whom] I shall not cut off from mine altar, [shall be] to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34 And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hŏph‑́nī and Phĭn‑́ĕ‑hăṡ; in one day they shall die both of them.
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.
36 And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left in thine house shall come [and] crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
CHAPTER 3
And the child Săm‑́ū‑ĕl ministered unto the LORD before Ē‑́lī. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there was] no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Ē‑́lī [was] laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, [that] he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God [was], and Săm‑́ū‑ĕl was laid down [to sleep];
4 That the LORD called Săm‑́ū‑ĕl: and he answered, Here [am] I.
5 And he ran unto Ē‑́lī, and said, Here [am] I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Săm‑́ū‑ĕl. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl arose and went to Ē‑́lī, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Săm‑́ū‑ĕl did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Săm‑́ū‑ĕl again the third time. And he arose and went to Ē‑́lī, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Ē‑́lī perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Ē‑́lī said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Săm‑́ū‑ĕl went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Săm‑́ū‑ĕl. Then Săm‑́ū‑ĕl answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11 ¶ And the LORD said to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Behold, I will do a thing in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Ē‑́lī all [things] which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made them­selves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Ē‑́lī, that the iniquity of Ē‑́lī’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl feared to shew Ē‑́lī the vision.
16 Then Ē‑́lī called Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, and said, Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, my son. And he answered, Here [am] I.
17 And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
19 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20 And all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl from Dăn even to Be᷍er–shē‑́bă knew that Săm‑́ū‑ĕl [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD.
21 And the LORD appeared again in Shī‑́lōh: for the LORD revealed him­self to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl in Shī‑́lōh by the word of the LORD.
CHAPTER 4
And the word of Săm‑́ū‑ĕl came to all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl. Now Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl went out against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ to battle, and pitched beside Ĕb‑́ĕn–ē‑́zĕr: and the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ pitched in Ā‑́phĕk.
2 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ put them­selves in array against Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and when they joined battle, Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl was smitten before the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
3 ¶ And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shī‑́lōh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
4 So the people sent to Shī‑́lōh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth [between] the chĕr‑́ū‑bĭms: and the two sons of Ē‑́lī, Hŏph‑́nī and Phĭn‑́ĕ‑hăṡ, [were] there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
6 And when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ heard the noise of the shout, they said, What [meaneth] the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ? And they under­stood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
7 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these [are] the Gods that smote the Ē‑ġy̆p‑́ti̅ăns with all the plagues in the wilderness.
9 Be strong, and quit your­selves like men, O ye Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, that ye be not servants unto the Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ, as they have been to you: quit your­selves like men, and fight.
10 ¶ And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ fought, and Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl thirty thousand foot­men.
11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Ē‑́lī, Hŏph‑́nī and Phĭn‑́ĕ‑hăṡ, were slain.
12 ¶ And there ran a man of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn out of the army, and came to Shī‑́lōh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
13 And when he came, lo, Ē‑́lī 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.
14 And when Ē‑́lī heard the noise of the crying, he said, What [meaneth] the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Ē‑́lī.
15 Now Ē‑́lī was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
16 And the man said unto Ē‑́lī, 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?
17 And the messenger answered and said, Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl is fled before the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hŏph‑́nī and Phĭn‑́ĕ‑hăṡ, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
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 Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl forty years.
19 ¶ And his daughter in law, Phĭn‑́ĕ‑hăṡ’ 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.
20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard [it].
21 And she named the child Ī–́chă‑bŏd, saying, The glory is departed from Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22 And she said, The glory is departed from Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: for the ark of God is taken.
CHAPTER 5
And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ took the ark of God, and brought it from Ĕb‑́ĕn–ē‑́zĕr unto Ăsh‑́dŏd.
2 When the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dā‑́gŏn, and set it by Dā‑́gŏn.
3 ¶ And when they of Ăsh‑́dŏd arose early on the morrow, behold, Dā‑́gŏn [was] fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dā‑́gŏn, and set him in his place again.
4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dā‑́gŏn [was] fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dā‑́gŏn and both the palms of his hands [were] cut off upon the threshold; only [the stump of] Dā‑́gŏn was left to him.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dā‑́gŏn, nor any that come into Dā‑́gŏn’s house, tread on the threshold of Dā‑́gŏn in Ăsh‑́dŏd unto this day.
6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ăsh‑́dŏd, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, [even] Ăsh‑́dŏd and the coasts thereof.
7 And when the men of Ăsh‑́dŏd saw that [it was] so, they said, The ark of the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dā‑́gŏn our god.
8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl be carried about unto Găth. And they carried the ark of the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl about [thither].
9 And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
10 ¶ Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ĕk‑́rŏn. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ĕk‑́rŏn, that the Ĕk‑́rŏn‑ītes cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl to us, to slay us and our people.
11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, 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.
12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
CHAPTER 6
And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ seven months.
2 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ 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.
3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.
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 Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: for one plague [was] on you all, and on your lords.
5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Ē‑ġy̆p‑́ti̅ăns and Phâr‑́a̅o̅h hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:
8 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him [for] a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.
9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bĕth–shē‑́mĕsh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote us; it [was] a chance [that] happened to us.
10 ¶ And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
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.
12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bĕth–shē‑́mĕsh, [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 Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ went after them unto the border of Bĕth–shē‑́mĕsh.
13 And [they of] Bĕth–shē‑́mĕsh [were] reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see [it].
14 And the cart came into the field of Jŏsh‑́ū‑ă, a Bĕth–shē‑́mīte, and stood there, where [there was] a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.
15 And the Lē‑́vītes 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 Bĕth–shē‑́mĕsh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.
16 And when the five lords of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ had seen [it], they returned to Ĕk‑́rŏn the same day.
17 And these [are] the golden emerods which the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ returned [for] a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ăsh‑́dŏd one, for Gā‑́ză one, for Ăs‑́kĕ‑lo̱n one, for Găth one, for Ĕk‑́rŏn one;
18 And the golden mice, [according to] the number of all the cities of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ [belonging] to the five lords, [both] of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great [stone of] Ā‑́bĕl, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: [which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of Jŏsh‑́ū‑ă, the Bĕth–shē‑́mīte.
19 ¶ And he smote the men of Bĕth–shē‑́mĕsh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten [many] of the people with a great slaughter.
20 And the men of Bĕth–shē‑́mĕsh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
21 ¶ And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kĭr‑́jăth–jē‑́ă‑rĭm, saying, The Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, [and] fetch it up to you.
CHAPTER 7
And the men of Kĭr‑́jăth–jē‑́ă‑rĭm came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Ă‑bĭn‑́ă‑dăb in the hill, and sanctified Ĕl‑ē‑ā‑́zär his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kĭr‑́jăth–jē‑́ă‑rĭm, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl lamented after the LORD.
3 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl spake unto all the house of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, [then] put away the strange gods and Ăsh‑́tă‑rōth 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 Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
4 Then the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl did put away Bā‑́ă‑lĭm and Ăsh‑́tă‑rōth, and served the LORD only.
5 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said, Gather all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl to Mĭz‑́pēh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
6 And they gathered together to Mĭz‑́pēh, 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 Săm‑́ū‑ĕl judged the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl in Mĭz‑́pēh.
7 And when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ heard that the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl were gathered together to Mĭz‑́pēh, the lords of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ went up against Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl. And when the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl heard [it], they were afraid of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
8 And the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl said to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
9 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl took a sucking lamb, and offered [it for] a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Săm‑́ū‑ĕl cried unto the LORD for Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and the LORD heard him.
10 And as Săm‑́ū‑ĕl was offering up the burnt offering, the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ drew near to battle against Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
11 And the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl went out of Mĭz‑́pēh, and pursued the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and smote them, until [they came] under Bĕth–́cär.
12 Then Săm‑́ū‑ĕl took a stone, and set [it] between Mĭz‑́pēh and Shĕn, and called the name of it Ĕb‑́ĕn–ē‑́zĕr, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
13 ¶ So the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and the hand of the LORD was against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ all the days of Săm‑́ū‑ĕl.
14 And the cities which the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ had taken from Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl were restored to Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, from Ĕk‑́rŏn even unto Găth; and the coasts thereof did Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl deliver out of the hands of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ. And there was peace between Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and the Ăm‑́ō‑rītes.
15 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl judged Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl all the days of his life.
16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bĕth–́ĕl, and Gĭl‑́găl, and Mĭz‑́pēh, and judged Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl in all those places.
17 And his return [was] to Rā‑́măh; for there [was] his house; and there he judged Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
CHAPTER 8
And it came to pass, when Săm‑́ū‑ĕl was old, that he made his sons judges over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
2 Now the name of his first­born was Jō‑́ĕl; and the name of his second, Ă‑bī‑́ăh: [they were] judges in Be᷍er–shē‑́bă.
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4 Then all the elders of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl gathered them­selves together, and came to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl unto Rā‑́măh,
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6 ¶ But the thing displeased Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl prayed unto the LORD.
7 And the LORD said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Ē‑́ġy̆pt even unto this day, where­with they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
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.
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.
13 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16 And he will take your men­servants, and your maid­servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19 ¶ Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Săm‑́ū‑ĕl; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
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.
21 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
22 And the LORD said to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, Go ye every man unto his city.
CHAPTER 9
Now there was a man of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn, whose name [was] Kĭsh, the son of Ă‑bī‑́ĕl, the son of Zē‑́rôr, the son of Bĕ‑c͟hō‑́răth, the son of Ă‑phī‑́ăh, a Bĕn‑́jă‑mīte, a mighty man of power.
2 And he had a son, whose name [was] Sa᷍ul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than any of the people.
3 And the asses of Kĭsh Sa᷍ul’s father were lost. And Kĭsh said to Sa᷍ul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 And he passed through mount Ē‑́phră‑ĭm, and passed through the land of Shăl‑́ĭ‑shă, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shāl‑́ĭm, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Bĕn‑́jă‑mītes, but they found [them] not.
5 [And] when they were come to the land of Zŭph, Sa᷍ul 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.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7 Then said Sa᷍ul 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?
8 And the servant answered Sa᷍ul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shē‑́kĕl of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Before­time in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was before­time called a Seer.)
10 Then said Sa᷍ul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God [was].
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?
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:
13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straight­way find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] after­wards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
14 And they went up into the city: [and] when they were come into the city, behold, Săm‑́ū‑ĕl came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15 ¶ Now the LORD had told Săm‑́ū‑ĕl in his ear a day before Sa᷍ul came, saying,
16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn, and thou shalt anoint him [to be] captain over my people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 And when Săm‑́ū‑ĕl saw Sa᷍ul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Sa᷍ul drew near to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house [is].
19 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl answered Sa᷍ul, and said, I [am] the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that [is] in thine heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?
21 And Sa᷍ul answered and said, [Am] not I a Bĕn‑́jă‑mīte, of the smallest of the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl took Sa᷍ul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons.
23 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Sa᷍ul. And [Săm‑́ū‑ĕl] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Sa᷍ul did eat with Săm‑́ū‑ĕl that day.
25 ¶ And when they were come down from the high place into the city, [Săm‑́ū‑ĕl] communed with Sa᷍ul upon the top of the house.
26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Săm‑́ū‑ĕl called Sa᷍ul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Sa᷍ul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, abroad.
27 [And] as they were going down to the end of the city, Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said to Sa᷍ul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
CHAPTER 10
Then Săm‑́ū‑ĕl took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance?
2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rā‑́chĕl’s sepulchre in the border of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn at Zĕl‑́zăh; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tā‑́bôr, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bĕth–́ĕl, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two [loaves] of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where [is] the garrison of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, [that] thou do as occasion serve thee; for God [is] with thee.
8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gĭl‑́găl; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, [and] to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
9 ¶ And it was [so], that when he had turned his back to go from Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
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.
11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him before­time saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What [is] this [that] is come unto the son of Kĭsh? [Is] Sa᷍ul also among the prophets?
12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who [is] their father? Therefore it became a proverb, [Is] Sa᷍ul also among the prophets?
13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14 ¶ And Sa᷍ul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that [they were] no where, we came to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl.
15 And Sa᷍ul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto you.
16 And Sa᷍ul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Săm‑́ū‑ĕl spake, he told him not.
17 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl called the people together unto the LORD to Mĭz‑́pēh;
18 And said unto the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, Thus saith the LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, I brought up Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl out of Ē‑́ġy̆pt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Ē‑ġy̆p‑́ti̅ăns, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed you:
19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who him­self saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now therefore present your­selves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
20 And when Săm‑́ū‑ĕl had caused all the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl to come near, the tribe of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn was taken.
21 When he had caused the tribe of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Sa᷍ul the son of Kĭsh was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid him­self among the stuff.
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.
24 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
25 Then Săm‑́ū‑ĕl told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote [it] in a book, and laid [it] up before the LORD. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26 ¶ And Sa᷍ul also went home to Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27 But the children of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
CHAPTER 11
Then Nā‑́hăsh the Ăm‑́mo̱n‑īte came up, and encamped against Jā‑́bĕsh–gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd: and all the men of Jā‑́bĕsh said unto Nā‑́hăsh, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
2 And Nā‑́hăsh the Ăm‑́mo̱n‑īte 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 Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
3 And the elders of Jā‑́bĕsh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and then, if [there be] no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
4 ¶ Then came the messengers to Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of Sa᷍ul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
5 And, behold, Sa᷍ul came after the herd out of the field; and Sa᷍ul said, What [aileth] the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jā‑́bĕsh.
6 And the Spirit of God came upon Sa᷍ul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent [them] through­out all the coasts of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl by the hands of messengers, saying, Who­soever cometh not forth after Sa᷍ul and after Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, 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.
8 And when he numbered them in Bē‑́zĕk, the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl were three hundred thousand, and the men of Jûd‑́ăh thirty thousand.
9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jā‑́bĕsh–gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd, To morrow, by [that time] the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jā‑́bĕsh; and they were glad.
10 Therefore the men of Jā‑́bĕsh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
11 And it was [so] on the morrow, that Sa᷍ul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ăm‑́mo̱n‑ītes 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.
12 ¶ And the people said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Who [is] he that said, Shall Sa᷍ul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
13 And Sa᷍ul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
14 Then said Săm‑́ū‑ĕl to the people, Come, and let us go to Gĭl‑́găl, and renew the kingdom there.
15 And all the people went to Gĭl‑́găl; and there they made Sa᷍ul king before the LORD in Gĭl‑́găl; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Sa᷍ul and all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl rejoiced greatly.
CHAPTER 12
And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons [are] with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
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.
4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.
5 And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness.
6 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto the people, [It is] the LORD that advanced Mō‑́ṡĕṡ and A᷍a‑́ro̱n, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Ē‑́ġy̆pt.
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.
8 When Jā‑́co̱b was come into Ē‑́ġy̆pt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Mō‑́ṡĕṡ and A᷍a‑́ro̱n, which brought forth your fathers out of Ē‑́ġy̆pt, and made them dwell in this place.
9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sĭs‑́ĕ‑ră, captain of the host of Hā‑́zôr, and into the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and into the hand of the king of Mō‑́ăb, and they fought against them.
10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Bā‑́ă‑lĭm and Ăsh‑́tă‑rōth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
11 And the LORD sent Jĕr‑ŭb‑bā‑́ăl, and Bē‑́dăn, and Jĕph‑́thăh, and Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
12 And when ye saw that Nā‑́hăsh the king of the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king.
13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, [and] whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers.
16 ¶ Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17 [Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
18 So Săm‑́ū‑ĕl called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Săm‑́ū‑ĕl.
19 And all the people said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.
20 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
21 And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain.
22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
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:
24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you.
25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
CHAPTER 13
Sa᷍ul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl,
2 Sa᷍ul chose him three thousand [men] of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl; [whereof] two thousand were with Sa᷍ul in Mĭc͟h‑́măsh and in mount Bĕth–́ĕl, and a thousand were with Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
3 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn smote the garrison of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ that [was] in Gē‑́bă, and the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ heard [of it]. And Sa᷍ul blew the trumpet through­out all the land, saying, Let the Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ hear.
4 And all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl heard say [that] Sa᷍ul had smitten a garrison of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and [that] Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl also was had in abomination with the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ. And the people were called together after Sa᷍ul to Gĭl‑́găl.
5 ¶ And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ gathered them­selves together to fight with Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, 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 Mĭc͟h‑́măsh, east­ward from Bĕth–ā‑́vĕn.
6 When the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl 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.
7 And [some of] the Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ went over Jôr‑́dăn to the land of Găd and Gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd. As for Sa᷍ul, he [was] yet in Gĭl‑́găl, and all the people followed him trembling.
8 ¶ And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Săm‑́ū‑ĕl [had appointed]: but Săm‑́ū‑ĕl came not to Gĭl‑́găl; and the people were scattered from him.
9 And Sa᷍ul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Săm‑́ū‑ĕl came; and Sa᷍ul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
11 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said, What hast thou done? And Sa᷍ul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that] thou camest not within the days appointed, and [that] the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ gathered them­selves together at Mĭc͟h‑́măsh;
12 Therefore said I, The Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ will come down now upon me to Gĭl‑́găl, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said to Sa᷍ul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl for ever.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee.
15 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl arose, and gat him up from Gĭl‑́găl unto Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn. And Sa᷍ul numbered the people [that were] present with him, about six hundred men.
16 And Sa᷍ul, and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son, and the people [that were] present with them, abode in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn: but the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ encamped in Mĭc͟h‑́măsh.
17 ¶ And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ in three companies: one company turned unto the way [that leadeth to] Ŏph‑́răh, unto the land of Shû‑́ăl:
18 And another company turned the way [to] Bĕth–hôr‑́ŏn: and another company turned [to] the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zĕ‑bō‑́ĭm toward the wilderness.
19 ¶ Now there was no smith found through­out all the land of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: for the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ said, Lest the Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ make [them] swords or spears:
20 But all the Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl‑ītes went down to the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
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.
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 Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn: but with Sa᷍ul and with Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son was there found.
23 And the garrison of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ went out to the pass­age of Mĭc͟h‑́măsh.
CHAPTER 14
Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn the son of Sa᷍ul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ’ garrison, that [is] on the other side. But he told not his father.
2 And Sa᷍ul tarried in the utter­most part of Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh under a pomegranate tree which [is] in Mĭg‑́rŏn: and the people that [were] with him [were] about six hundred men;
3 And Ă‑hī‑́ăh, the son of Ă‑hī‑́tŭb, Ī–́chă‑bŏd’s brother, the son of Phĭn‑́ĕ‑hăṡ, the son of Ē‑́lī, the LORD’S priest in Shī‑́lōh, wearing an ē‑́phŏd. And the people knew not that Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn was gone.
4 ¶ And between the pass­ages, by which Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn sought to go over unto the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ’ 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] Bō‑́zĕz, and the name of the other Sĕn‑́ēh.
5 The forefront of the one [was] situate north­ward over against Mĭc͟h‑́măsh, and the other south­ward over against Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh.
6 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn 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.
7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to thy heart.
8 Then said Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, Behold, we will pass over unto [these] men, and we will discover our­selves unto them.
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.
10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this [shall be] a sign unto us.
11 And both of them discovered them­selves unto the garrison of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ said, Behold, the Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ come forth out of the holes where they had hid them­selves.
12 And the men of the garrison answered Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
13 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn; and his armourbearer slew after him.
14 And that first slaughter, which Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].
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.
16 And the watch­men of Sa᷍ul in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of Bĕn‑́jă‑mĭn looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down [one another].
17 Then said Sa᷍ul unto the people that [were] with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn and his armourbearer [were] not [there].
18 And Sa᷍ul said unto Ă‑hī‑́ăh, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
19 ¶ And it came to pass, while Sa᷍ul talked unto the priest, that the noise that [was] in the host of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ went on and increased: and Sa᷍ul said unto the priest, With­draw thine hand.
20 And Sa᷍ul 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.
21 More­over the Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ [that] were with the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ before that time, which went up with them into the camp [from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl‑ītes that [were] with Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn.
22 Likewise all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl which had hid them­selves in mount Ē‑́phră‑ĭm, [when] they heard that the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the LORD saved Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl that day: and the battle passed over unto Bĕth–ā‑́vĕn.
24 ¶ And the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl were distressed that day: for Sa᷍ul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted [any] food.
25 And all [they of] the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
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.
27 But Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn 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.
28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food this day. And the people were faint.
29 Then said Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ?
31 And they smote the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ that day from Mĭc͟h‑́măsh to A᷍i‑́jă‑lŏn: and the people were very faint.
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.
33 ¶ Then they told Sa᷍ul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
34 And Sa᷍ul said, Disperse your­selves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay [them] here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew [them] there.
35 And Sa᷍ul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
36 ¶ And Sa᷍ul said, Let us go down after the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do what­soever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
37 And Sa᷍ul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? But he answered him not that day.
38 And Sa᷍ul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
39 For, [as] the LORD liveth, which saveth Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, though it be in Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn my son, he shall surely die. But [there was] not a man among all the people [that] answered him.
40 Then said he unto all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, Be ye on one side, and I and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Sa᷍ul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
41 Therefore Sa᷍ul said unto the LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, Give a perfect [lot]. And Sa᷍ul and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn were taken: but the people escaped.
42 And Sa᷍ul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn my son. And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn was taken.
43 Then Sa᷍ul said to Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn 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.
44 And Sa᷍ul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn.
45 And the people said unto Sa᷍ul, Shall Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? God forbid: [as] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, that he died not.
46 Then Sa᷍ul went up from following the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ went to their own place.
47 ¶ So Sa᷍ul took the kingdom over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Mō‑́ăb, and against the children of Ăm‑́mo̱n, and against Ē‑́do̱m, and against the kings of Zō‑́băh, and against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and whither­soever he turned him­self, he vexed [them].
48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes, and delivered Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
49 Now the sons of Sa᷍ul were Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, and Ĭsh‑́ū‑ī, and Mĕl‑́c͟hī–shû‑́ă: and the names of his two daughters [were these]; the name of the first­born Mē‑́răb, and the name of the younger Mī‑́c͟hăl:
50 And the name of Sa᷍ul’s wife [was] Ă‑hĭn‑́ō‑ăm, the daughter of Ă‑hī‑́mă‑ăz: and the name of the captain of his host [was] Ăb‑́nĕr, the son of Nĕr, Sa᷍ul’s uncle.
51 And Kĭsh [was] the father of Sa᷍ul; and Nĕr the father of Ăb‑́nĕr [was] the son of Ă‑bī‑́ĕl.
52 And there was sore war against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ all the days of Sa᷍ul: and when Sa᷍ul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
CHAPTER 15
Săm‑́ū‑ĕl also said unto Sa᷍ul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee [to be] king over his people, over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which Ăm‑́ă‑lĕk did to Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, how he laid [wait] for him in the way, when he came up from Ē‑́ġy̆pt.
3 Now go and smite Ăm‑́ă‑lĕk, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
4 And Sa᷍ul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Tĕ‑lā‑́ĭm, two hundred thousand foot­men, and ten thousand men of Jûd‑́ăh.
5 And Sa᷍ul came to a city of Ăm‑́ă‑lĕk, and laid wait in the valley.
6 ¶ And Sa᷍ul said unto the Kē‑́nītes, Go, depart, get you down from among the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, when they came up out of Ē‑́ġy̆pt. So the Kē‑́nītes departed from among the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes.
7 And Sa᷍ul smote the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes from Hăv‑́ĭ‑läh [until] thou comest to Shu̇r, that [is] over against Ē‑́ġy̆pt.
8 And he took Ā‑́găg the king of the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9 But Sa᷍ul and the people spared Ā‑́găg, 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.
10 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, saying,
11 It repenteth me that I have set up Sa᷍ul [to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Săm‑́ū‑ĕl; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
12 And when Săm‑́ū‑ĕl rose early to meet Sa᷍ul in the morning, it was told Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, saying, Sa᷍ul came to Cär‑́mĕl, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gĭl‑́găl.
13 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl came to Sa᷍ul: and Sa᷍ul said unto him, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
14 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said, What [meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15 And Sa᷍ul said, They have brought them from the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
16 Then Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto Sa᷍ul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said, When thou [wast] little in thine own sight, [wast] thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and the LORD anointed thee king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl?
18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
20 And Sa᷍ul said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Ā‑́găg the king of Ăm‑́ă‑lĕk, and have utterly destroyed the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gĭl‑́găl.
22 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witch­craft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.
24 ¶ And Sa᷍ul said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
26 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto Sa᷍ul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
27 And as Săm‑́ū‑ĕl turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, [that is] better than thou.
29 And also the Strength of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl will not lie nor repent: for he [is] not a man, that he should repent.
30 Then he said, I have sinned: [yet] honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
31 So Săm‑́ū‑ĕl turned again after Sa᷍ul; and Sa᷍ul worshipped the LORD.
32 ¶ Then said Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Bring ye hither to me Ā‑́găg the king of the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes. And Ā‑́găg came unto him delicately. And Ā‑́găg said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
33 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said, As thy sword hath made women child­less, so shall thy mother be child­less among women. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl hewed Ā‑́găg in pieces before the LORD in Gĭl‑́găl.
34 ¶ Then Săm‑́ū‑ĕl went to Rā‑́măh; and Sa᷍ul went up to his house to Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh of Sa᷍ul.
35 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl came no more to see Sa᷍ul until the day of his death: nevertheless Săm‑́ū‑ĕl mourned for Sa᷍ul: and the LORD repented that he had made Sa᷍ul king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
CHAPTER 16
And the LORD said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, How long wilt thou mourn for Sa᷍ul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jĕs‑́sĕ the Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕ‑mīte: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said, How can I go? if Sa᷍ul hear [it], he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3 And call Jĕs‑́sĕ to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me [him] whom I name unto thee.
4 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
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 Jĕs‑́sĕ and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Ē‑lī‑́ăb, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed [is] before him.
7 But the LORD said unto Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the out­ward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8 Then Jĕs‑́sĕ called Ă‑bĭn‑́ă‑dăb, and made him pass before Săm‑́ū‑ĕl. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9 Then Jĕs‑́sĕ made Shăm‑́măh to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10 Again, Jĕs‑́sĕ made seven of his sons to pass before Săm‑́ū‑ĕl. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto Jĕs‑́sĕ, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11 And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto Jĕs‑́sĕ, Are here all [thy] children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said unto Jĕs‑́sĕ, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.
13 Then Săm‑́ū‑ĕl took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon Dā‑́vĭd from that day forward. So Săm‑́ū‑ĕl rose up, and went to Rā‑́măh.
14 ¶ But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Sa᷍ul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15 And Sa᷍ul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, [which are] before thee, to seek out a man, [who is] a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17 And Sa᷍ul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jĕs‑́sĕ the Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕ‑mīte, [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.
19 ¶ Wherefore Sa᷍ul sent messengers unto Jĕs‑́sĕ, and said, Send me Dā‑́vĭd thy son, which [is] with the sheep.
20 And Jĕs‑́sĕ took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent [them] by Dā‑́vĭd his son unto Sa᷍ul.
21 And Dā‑́vĭd came to Sa᷍ul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22 And Sa᷍ul sent to Jĕs‑́sĕ, saying, Let Dā‑́vĭd, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23 And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Sa᷍ul, that Dā‑́vĭd took an harp, and played with his hand: so Sa᷍ul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
CHAPTER 17
Now the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shō‑́c͟hōh, which [belongeth] to Jûd‑́ăh, and pitched between Shō‑́c͟hōh and Ă‑zē‑́kăh, in Ē‑́phĕṡ–dăm‑́mĭm.
2 And Sa᷍ul and the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Ē‑́lăh, and set the battle in array against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
3 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ stood on a mountain on the one side, and Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl stood on a mountain on the other side: and [there was] a valley between them.
4 ¶ And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, named Gō‑lī‑́ăth, of Găth, whose height [was] six cubits and a span.
5 And [he had] an helmet of brass upon his head, and he [was] armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat [was] five thousand shē‑́kĕls of brass.
6 And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7 And the staff of his spear [was] like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head [weighed] six hundred shē‑́kĕls of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set [your] battle in array? [am] not I a Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, and ye servants to Sa᷍ul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne said, I defy the armies of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11 When Sa᷍ul and all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl heard those words of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
12 ¶ Now Dā‑́vĭd [was] the son of that Ĕph‑́ră‑thīte of Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm–jû‑́dăh, whose name [was] Jĕs‑́sĕ; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men [for] an old man in the days of Sa᷍ul.
13 And the three eldest sons of Jĕs‑́sĕ went [and] followed Sa᷍ul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle [were] Ē‑lī‑́ăb the first­born, and next unto him Ă‑bĭn‑́ă‑dăb, and the third Shăm‑́măh.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd [was] the youngest: and the three eldest followed Sa᷍ul.
15 But Dā‑́vĭd went and returned from Sa᷍ul to feed his father’s sheep at Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm.
16 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne drew near morning and evening, and presented him­self forty days.
17 And Jĕs‑́sĕ said unto Dā‑́vĭd his son, Take now for thy brethren an ē‑́phäh of this parched [corn], and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;
18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of [their] thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
19 Now Sa᷍ul, and they, and all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, [were] in the valley of Ē‑́lăh, fighting with the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
20 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jĕs‑́sĕ had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
21 For Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 And Dā‑́vĭd left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne of Găth, Gō‑lī‑́ăth by name, out of the armies of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and spake according to the same words: and Dā‑́vĭd heard [them].
24 And all the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25 And the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl is he come up: and it shall be, [that] the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
26 And Dā‑́vĭd spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, and taketh away the reproach from Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? for who [is] this uncircumcised Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28 ¶ And Ē‑lī‑́ăb his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Ē‑lī‑́ăb’s anger was kindled against Dā‑́vĭd, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 And Dā‑́vĭd said, What have I now done? [Is there] not a cause?
30 ¶ And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31 And when the words were heard which Dā‑́vĭd spake, they rehearsed [them] before Sa᷍ul: and he sent for him.
32 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said to Sa᷍ul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne.
33 And Sa᷍ul said to Dā‑́vĭd, Thou art not able to go against this Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Sa᷍ul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered [it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught [him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 Dā‑́vĭd 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 Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne. And Sa᷍ul said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38 ¶ And Sa᷍ul armed Dā‑́vĭd with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
39 And Dā‑́vĭd girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved [it]. And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Sa᷍ul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved [them]. And Dā‑́vĭd put them off him.
40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his hand: and he drew near to the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne.
41 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne came on and drew near unto Dā‑́vĭd; and the man that bare the shield [went] before him.
42 And when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne looked about, and saw Dā‑́vĭd, he disdained him: for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne said unto Dā‑́vĭd, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne cursed Dā‑́vĭd by his gods.
44 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne said to Dā‑́vĭd, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45 Then said Dā‑́vĭd to the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, whom thou hast defied.
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ 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 Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
48 And it came to pass, when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne arose, and came and drew nigh to meet Dā‑́vĭd, that Dā‑́vĭd hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne.
49 And Dā‑́vĭd put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang [it], and smote the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50 So Dā‑́vĭd prevailed over the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, and slew him; but [there was] no sword in the hand of Dā‑́vĭd.
51 Therefore Dā‑́vĭd ran, and stood upon the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head there­with. And when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52 And the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and of Jûd‑́ăh arose, and shouted, and pursued the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ĕk‑́rŏn. And the wounded of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ fell down by the way to Shā‑ă‑rā‑́ĭm, even unto Găth, and unto Ĕk‑́rŏn.
53 And the children of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl returned from chasing after the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and they spoiled their tents.
54 And Dā‑́vĭd took the head of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, and brought it to Jĕ‑rû‑́să‑lĕm; but he put his armour in his tent.
55 ¶ And when Sa᷍ul saw Dā‑́vĭd go forth against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, he said unto Ăb‑́nĕr, the captain of the host, Ăb‑́nĕr, whose son [is] this youth? And Ăb‑́nĕr said, [As] thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56 And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling [is].
57 And as Dā‑́vĭd returned from the slaughter of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, Ăb‑́nĕr took him, and brought him before Sa᷍ul with the head of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne in his hand.
58 And Sa᷍ul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou] young man? And Dā‑́vĭd answered, [I am] the son of thy servant Jĕs‑́sĕ the Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕ‑mīte.
CHAPTER 18
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Sa᷍ul, that the soul of Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn was knit with the soul of Dā‑́vĭd, and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn loved him as his own soul.
2 And Sa᷍ul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn and Dā‑́vĭd made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn stripped him­self of the robe that [was] upon him, and gave it to Dā‑́vĭd, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd went out whither­soever Sa᷍ul sent him, [and] behaved him­self wisely: and Sa᷍ul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Sa᷍ul’s servants.
6 And it came to pass as they came, when Dā‑́vĭd was returned from the slaughter of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, that the women came out of all cities of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, singing and dancing, to meet king Sa᷍ul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Sa᷍ul hath slain his thousands, and Dā‑́vĭd his ten thousands.
8 And Sa᷍ul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto Dā‑́vĭd ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed [but] thousands: and [what] can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Sa᷍ul eyed Dā‑́vĭd from that day and forward.
10 ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Sa᷍ul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and Dā‑́vĭd played with his hand, as at other times: and [there was] a javelin in Sa᷍ul’s hand.
11 And Sa᷍ul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite Dā‑́vĭd even to the wall [with it]. And Dā‑́vĭd avoided out of his presence twice.
12 ¶ And Sa᷍ul was afraid of Dā‑́vĭd, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Sa᷍ul.
13 Therefore Sa᷍ul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd behaved him­self wisely in all his ways; and the LORD [was] with him.
15 Wherefore when Sa᷍ul saw that he behaved him­self very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl and Jûd‑́ăh loved Dā‑́vĭd, because he went out and came in before them.
17 ¶ And Sa᷍ul said to Dā‑́vĭd, Behold my elder daughter Mē‑́răb, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’S battles. For Sa᷍ul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ be upon him.
18 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Sa᷍ul, Who [am] I? and what [is] my life, [or] my father’s family in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, that I should be son in law to the king?
19 But it came to pass at the time when Mē‑́răb Sa᷍ul’s daughter should have been given to Dā‑́vĭd, that she was given unto Ā‑́drĭ‑ĕl the Mĕ‑hō‑́lă‑thīte to wife.
20 And Mī‑́c͟hăl Sa᷍ul’s daughter loved Dā‑́vĭd: and they told Sa᷍ul, and the thing pleased him.
21 And Sa᷍ul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ may be against him. Wherefore Sa᷍ul said to Dā‑́vĭd, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in [the one of] the twain.
22 ¶ And Sa᷍ul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with Dā‑́vĭd secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.
23 And Sa᷍ul’s servants spake those words in the ears of Dā‑́vĭd. And Dā‑́vĭd said, Seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I [am] a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 And the servants of Sa᷍ul told him, saying, On this manner spake Dā‑́vĭd.
25 And Sa᷍ul said, Thus shall ye say to Dā‑́vĭd, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Sa᷍ul thought to make Dā‑́vĭd fall by the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
26 And when his servants told Dā‑́vĭd these words, it pleased Dā‑́vĭd well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.
27 Wherefore Dā‑́vĭd arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ two hundred men; and Dā‑́vĭd brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Sa᷍ul gave him Mī‑́c͟hăl his daughter to wife.
28 ¶ And Sa᷍ul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with Dā‑́vĭd, and [that] Mī‑́c͟hăl Sa᷍ul’s daughter loved him.
29 And Sa᷍ul was yet the more afraid of Dā‑́vĭd; and Sa᷍ul became Dā‑́vĭd’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, [that] Dā‑́vĭd behaved him­self more wisely than all the servants of Sa᷍ul; so that his name was much set by.
CHAPTER 19
And Sa᷍ul spake to Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill Dā‑́vĭd.
2 But Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn Sa᷍ul’s son delighted much in Dā‑́vĭd: and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn told Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Sa᷍ul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thy­self until the morning, and abide in a secret [place], and hide thy­self:
3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou [art], and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
4 ¶ And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn spake good of Dā‑́vĭd unto Sa᷍ul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against Dā‑́vĭd; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works [have been] to thee-ward very good:
5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay Dā‑́vĭd with­out a cause?
6 And Sa᷍ul hearkened unto the voice of Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn: and Sa᷍ul sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
7 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn called Dā‑́vĭd, and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn shewed him all those things. And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn brought Dā‑́vĭd to Sa᷍ul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
8 ¶ And there was war again: and Dā‑́vĭd went out, and fought with the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Sa᷍ul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and Dā‑́vĭd played with [his] hand.
10 And Sa᷍ul sought to smite Dā‑́vĭd even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Sa᷍ul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and Dā‑́vĭd fled, and escaped that night.
11 Sa᷍ul also sent messengers unto Dā‑́vĭd’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Mī‑́c͟hăl Dā‑́vĭd’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
12 ¶ So Mī‑́c͟hăl let Dā‑́vĭd down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 And Mī‑́c͟hăl 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.
14 And when Sa᷍ul sent messengers to take Dā‑́vĭd, she said, He [is] sick.
15 And Sa᷍ul sent the messengers [again] to see Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
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.
17 And Sa᷍ul said unto Mī‑́c͟hăl, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Mī‑́c͟hăl answered Sa᷍ul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
18 ¶ So Dā‑́vĭd fled, and escaped, and came to Săm‑́ū‑ĕl to Rā‑́măh, and told him all that Sa᷍ul had done to him. And he and Săm‑́ū‑ĕl went and dwelt in Na᷍i‑́ōth.
19 And it was told Sa᷍ul, saying, Behold, Dā‑́vĭd [is] at Na᷍i‑́ōth in Rā‑́măh.
20 And Sa᷍ul sent messengers to take Dā‑́vĭd: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Săm‑́ū‑ĕl standing [as] appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Sa᷍ul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when it was told Sa᷍ul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Sa᷍ul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22 Then went he also to Rā‑́măh, and came to a great well that [is] in Sē‑́c͟hû: and he asked and said, Where [are] Săm‑́ū‑ĕl and Dā‑́vĭd? And [one] said, Behold, [they be] at Na᷍i‑́ōth in Rā‑́măh.
23 And he went thither to Na᷍i‑́ōth in Rā‑́măh: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Na᷍i‑́ōth in Rā‑́măh.
24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Săm‑́ū‑ĕl in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Sa᷍ul also among the prophets?
CHAPTER 20
And Dā‑́vĭd fled from Na᷍i‑́ōth in Rā‑́măh, and came and said before Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, What have I done? what [is] mine iniquity? and what [is] my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it [is] not [so].
3 And Dā‑́vĭd sware more­over, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a step between me and death.
4 Then said Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn unto Dā‑́vĭd, What­soever thy soul desireth, I will even do [it] for thee.
5 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, Behold, to morrow [is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at even.
6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, Dā‑́vĭd earnestly asked [leave] of me that he might run to Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm his city: for [there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
7 If he say thus, [It is] well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is determined by him.
8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwith­standing, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thy­self; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
9 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
10 Then said Dā‑́vĭd to Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, Who shall tell me? or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?
11 ¶ And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
12 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn said unto Dā‑́vĭd, O LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, [or] the third [day], and, behold, [if there be] good toward Dā‑́vĭd, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
13 The LORD do so and much more to Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn: but if it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
15 But [also] thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of Dā‑́vĭd every one from the face of the earth.
16 So Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn made [a covenant] with the house of Dā‑́vĭd, [saying], Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of Dā‑́vĭd’s enemies.
17 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn caused Dā‑́vĭd to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18 Then Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn said to Dā‑́vĭd, To morrow [is] the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19 And [when] thou hast stayed three days, [then] thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thy­self when the business was [in hand], and shalt remain by the stone Ē‑́zĕl.
20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side [thereof], as though I shot at a mark.
21 And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying], Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows [are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for [there is] peace to thee, and no hurt; [as] the LORD liveth.
22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows [are] beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
23 And [as touching] the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD [be] between thee and me for ever.
24 ¶ So Dā‑́vĭd hid him­self in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, [even] upon a seat by the wall: and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn arose, and Ăb‑́nĕr sat by Sa᷍ul’s side, and Dā‑́vĭd’s place was empty.
26 Nevertheless Sa᷍ul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Some­thing hath befallen him, he [is] not clean; surely he [is] not clean.
27 And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the second [day] of the month, that Dā‑́vĭd’s place was empty: and Sa᷍ul said unto Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
28 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn answered Sa᷍ul, Dā‑́vĭd earnestly asked [leave] of me [to go] to Bĕth–́lĕ‑hĕm:
29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me [to be there]: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.
30 Then Sa᷍ul’s anger was kindled against Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
32 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn answered Sa᷍ul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33 And Sa᷍ul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn knew that it was determined of his father to slay Dā‑́vĭd.
34 So Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for Dā‑́vĭd, because his father had done him shame.
35 ¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn went out into the field at the time appointed with Dā‑́vĭd, and a little lad with him.
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.
37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn had shot, Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn cried after the lad, and said, [Is] not the arrow beyond thee?
38 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn and Dā‑́vĭd knew the matter.
40 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry [them] to the city.
41 ¶ [And] as soon as the lad was gone, Dā‑́vĭd 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 Dā‑́vĭd exceeded.
42 And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn said to Dā‑́vĭd, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn went into the city.
CHAPTER 21
Then came Dā‑́vĭd to Nŏb to Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the priest: and Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h was afraid at the meeting of Dā‑́vĭd, and said unto him, Why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee?
2 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business where­about I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed [my] servants to such and such a place.
3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give [me] five [loaves of] bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
4 And the priest answered Dā‑́vĭd, 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.
5 And Dā‑́vĭd answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women [have been] kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and [the bread is] in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
6 So the priest gave him hallowed [bread]: for there was no bread there but the shew­bread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
7 Now a certain man of the servants of Sa᷍ul [was] there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name [was] Dō‑́ĕg, an Ē‑́do̱m‑īte, the chiefest of the herd­men that [belonged] to Sa᷍ul.
8 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.
9 And the priest said, The sword of Gō‑lī‑́ăth the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne, whom thou slewest in the valley of Ē‑́lăh, behold, it [is here] wrapped in a cloth behind the ē‑́phŏd: if thou wilt take that, take [it]: for [there is] no other save that here. And Dā‑́vĭd said, [There is] none like that; give it me.
10 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd arose, and fled that day for fear of Sa᷍ul, and went to Ā‑́c͟hĭsh the king of Găth.
11 And the servants of Ā‑́c͟hĭsh said unto him, [Is] not this Dā‑́vĭd the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Sa᷍ul hath slain his thousands, and Dā‑́vĭd his ten thousands?
12 And Dā‑́vĭd laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Ā‑́c͟hĭsh the king of Găth.
13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned him­self mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
14 Then said Ā‑́c͟hĭsh unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore [then] have ye brought him to me?
15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this [fellow] to play the mad man in my presence? shall this [fellow] come into my house?
CHAPTER 22
Dā‑́vĭd therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Ă‑dŭl‑́lăm: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard [it], they went down thither to him.
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.
3 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd went thence to Mĭz‑́pēh of Mō‑́ăb: and he said unto the king of Mō‑́ăb, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, [and be] with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4 And he brought them before the king of Mō‑́ăb: and they dwelt with him all the while that Dā‑́vĭd was in the hold.
5 ¶ And the prophet Găd said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Jûd‑́ăh. Then Dā‑́vĭd departed, and came into the forest of Hâr‑́ĕth.
6 ¶ When Sa᷍ul heard that Dā‑́vĭd was discovered, and the men that [were] with him, (now Sa᷍ul abode in Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh under a tree in Rā‑́măh, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants [were] standing about him;)
7 Then Sa᷍ul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Bĕn‑́jă‑mītes; will the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ give every one of you fields and vineyards, [and] make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8 That all of you have conspired against me, and [there is] none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ, and [there is] none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9 ¶ Then answered Dō‑́ĕg the Ē‑́do̱m‑īte, which was set over the servants of Sa᷍ul, and said, I saw the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ coming to Nŏb, to Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the son of Ă‑hī‑́tŭb.
10 And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Gō‑lī‑́ăth the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīne.
11 Then the king sent to call Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the priest, the son of Ă‑hī‑́tŭb, and all his father’s house, the priests that [were] in Nŏb: and they came all of them to the king.
12 And Sa᷍ul said, Hear now, thou son of Ă‑hī‑́tŭb. And he answered, Here I [am], my lord.
13 And Sa᷍ul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
14 Then Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h answered the king, and said, And who [is so] faithful among all thy servants as Dā‑́vĭd, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute [any] thing unto his servant, [nor] to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h, thou, and all thy father’s house.
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 Dā‑́vĭd, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
18 And the king said to Dō‑́ĕg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Dō‑́ĕg the Ē‑́do̱m‑īte turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ē‑́phŏd.
19 And Nŏb, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20 ¶ And one of the sons of Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the son of Ă‑hī‑́tŭb, named Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär, escaped, and fled after Dā‑́vĭd.
21 And Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär shewed Dā‑́vĭd that Sa᷍ul had slain the LORD’S priests.
22 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär, I knew [it] that day, when Dō‑́ĕg the Ē‑́do̱m‑īte [was] there, that he would surely tell Sa᷍ul: I have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of thy father’s house.
23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou [shalt be] in safe­guard.
CHAPTER 23
Then they told Dā‑́vĭd, saying, Behold, the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ fight against Kē‑ī‑́lăh, and they rob the threshing­floors.
2 Therefore Dā‑́vĭd inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ? And the LORD said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Go, and smite the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and save Kē‑ī‑́lăh.
3 And Dā‑́vĭd’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Jûd‑́ăh: how much more then if we come to Kē‑ī‑́lăh against the armies of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ?
4 Then Dā‑́vĭd inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Kē‑ī‑́lăh; for I will deliver the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ into thine hand.
5 So Dā‑́vĭd and his men went to Kē‑ī‑́lăh, and fought with the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So Dā‑́vĭd saved the inhabitants of Kē‑ī‑́lăh.
6 And it came to pass, when Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär the son of Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h fled to Dā‑́vĭd to Kē‑ī‑́lăh, [that] he came down [with] an ē‑́phŏd in his hand.
7 ¶ And it was told Sa᷍ul that Dā‑́vĭd was come to Kē‑ī‑́lăh. And Sa᷍ul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8 And Sa᷍ul called all the people together to war, to go down to Kē‑ī‑́lăh, to besiege Dā‑́vĭd and his men.
9 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd knew that Sa᷍ul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär the priest, Bring hither the ē‑́phŏd.
10 Then said Dā‑́vĭd, O LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, thy servant hath certainly heard that Sa᷍ul seeketh to come to Kē‑ī‑́lăh, to destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will the men of Kē‑ī‑́lăh deliver me up into his hand? will Sa᷍ul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
12 Then said Dā‑́vĭd, Will the men of Kē‑ī‑́lăh deliver me and my men into the hand of Sa᷍ul? And the LORD said, They will deliver [thee] up.
13 ¶ Then Dā‑́vĭd and his men, [which were] about six hundred, arose and departed out of Kē‑ī‑́lăh, and went whither­soever they could go. And it was told Sa᷍ul that Dā‑́vĭd was escaped from Kē‑ī‑́lăh; and he forbare to go forth.
14 And Dā‑́vĭd abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Zĭph. And Sa᷍ul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15 And Dā‑́vĭd saw that Sa᷍ul was come out to seek his life: and Dā‑́vĭd [was] in the wilderness of Zĭph in a wood.
16 ¶ And Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn Sa᷍ul’s son arose, and went to Dā‑́vĭd into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Sa᷍ul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Sa᷍ul my father knoweth.
18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and Dā‑́vĭd abode in the wood, and Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn went to his house.
19 ¶ Then came up the Zĭph‑́ītes to Sa᷍ul to Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh, saying, Doth not Dā‑́vĭd hide him­self with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hă‑c͟hī‑́lăh, which [is] on the south of Jĕ‑shī‑́mo̱n?
20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part [shall be] to deliver him into the king’s hand.
21 And Sa᷍ul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, [and] who hath seen him there: for it is told me [that] he dealeth very subtilly.
23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth him­self, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out through­out all the thousands of Jûd‑́ăh.
24 And they arose, and went to Zĭph before Sa᷍ul: but Dā‑́vĭd and his men [were] in the wilderness of Mā‑́ŏn, in the plain on the south of Jĕ‑shī‑́mo̱n.
25 Sa᷍ul also and his men went to seek [him]. And they told Dā‑́vĭd: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Mā‑́ŏn. And when Sa᷍ul heard [that], he pursued after Dā‑́vĭd in the wilderness of Mā‑́ŏn.
26 And Sa᷍ul went on this side of the mountain, and Dā‑́vĭd and his men on that side of the mountain: and Dā‑́vĭd made haste to get away for fear of Sa᷍ul; for Sa᷍ul and his men compassed Dā‑́vĭd and his men round about to take them.
27 ¶ But there came a messenger unto Sa᷍ul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ have invaded the land.
28 Wherefore Sa᷍ul returned from pursuing after Dā‑́vĭd, and went against the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: therefore they called that place Sĕ‑lä–hăm‑mäh‑́lĕ‑kōth.
29 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Ĕn–ġē‑́dī.
CHAPTER 24
And it came to pass, when Sa᷍ul was returned from following the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, that it was told him, saying, Behold, Dā‑́vĭd [is] in the wilderness of Ĕn–ġē‑́dī.
2 Then Sa᷍ul took three thousand chosen men out of all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, and went to seek Dā‑́vĭd and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 And he came to the sheep­cotes by the way, where [was] a cave; and Sa᷍ul went in to cover his feet: and Dā‑́vĭd and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4 And the men of Dā‑́vĭd said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then Dā‑́vĭd arose, and cut off the skirt of Sa᷍ul’s robe privily.
5 And it came to pass after­ward, that Dā‑́vĭd’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Sa᷍ul’s skirt.
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.
7 So Dā‑́vĭd stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Sa᷍ul. But Sa᷍ul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way.
8 Dā‑́vĭd also arose after­ward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Sa᷍ul, saying, My lord the king. And when Sa᷍ul looked behind him, Dā‑́vĭd stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed him­self.
9 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said to Sa᷍ul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, Dā‑́vĭd seeketh thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and [some] bade [me] kill thee: but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he [is] the LORD’S anointed.
11 More­over, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that [there is] neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14 After whom is the king of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16 ¶ And it came to pass, when Dā‑́vĭd had made an end of speaking these words unto Sa᷍ul, that Sa᷍ul said, [Is] this thy voice, my son Dā‑́vĭd? And Sa᷍ul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 And he said to Dā‑́vĭd, Thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl shall be established in thine hand.
21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
22 And Dā‑́vĭd sware unto Sa᷍ul. And Sa᷍ul went home; but Dā‑́vĭd and his men gat them up unto the hold.
CHAPTER 25
And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl died; and all the Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl‑ītes were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Rā‑́măh. And Dā‑́vĭd arose, and went down to the wilderness of Pâr‑́ăn.
2 And [there was] a man in Mā‑́ŏn, whose possessions [were] in Cär‑́mĕl; and the man [was] very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Cär‑́mĕl.
3 Now the name of the man [was] Nā‑́băl; and the name of his wife Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il: and [she was] a woman of good under­standing, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man [was] churlish and evil in his doings; and he [was] of the house of Cā‑́lĕb.
4 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd heard in the wilderness that Nā‑́băl did shear his sheep.
5 And Dā‑́vĭd sent out ten young men, and Dā‑́vĭd said unto the young men, Get you up to Cär‑́mĕl, and go to Nā‑́băl, and greet him in my name:
6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth [in prosperity], Peace [be] both to thee, and peace [be] to thine house, and peace [be] unto all that thou hast.
7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Cär‑́mĕl.
8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, what­soever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son Dā‑́vĭd.
9 And when Dā‑́vĭd’s young men came, they spake to Nā‑́băl according to all those words in the name of Dā‑́vĭd, and ceased.
10 ¶ And Nā‑́băl answered Dā‑́vĭd’s servants, and said, Who [is] Dā‑́vĭd? and who [is] the son of Jĕs‑́sĕ? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
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]?
12 So Dā‑́vĭd’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
13 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and Dā‑́vĭd also girded on his sword: and there went up after Dā‑́vĭd about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
14 ¶ But one of the young men told Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il, Nā‑́băl’s wife, saying, Behold, Dā‑́vĭd sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
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:
16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house­hold: for he [is such] a son of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl, that [a man] cannot speak to him.
18 ¶ Then Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il 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.
19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nā‑́băl.
20 And it was [so, as] she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, Dā‑́vĭd and his men came down against her; and she met them.
21 Now Dā‑́vĭd had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this [fellow] hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that [pertained] unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of Dā‑́vĭd, if I leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
23 And when Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il saw Dā‑́vĭd, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before Dā‑́vĭd on her face, and bowed her­self to the ground,
24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, [upon] me [let this] iniquity [be]: and let thine hand­maid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine hand­maid.
25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl, [even] Nā‑́băl: for as his name [is], so [is] he; Nā‑́băl [is] his name, and folly [is] with him: but I thine hand­maid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26 Now therefore, my lord, [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath with­holden thee from coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging thy­self with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nā‑́băl.
27 And now this blessing which thine hand­maid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine hand­maid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee [all] thy days.
29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, [as out] of the middle of a sling.
30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl;
31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood cause­less, or that my lord hath avenged him­self: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine hand­maid.
32 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, which sent thee this day to meet me:
33 And blessed [be] thy advice, and blessed [be] thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
34 For in very deed, [as] the LORD God of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nā‑́băl by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
35 So Dā‑́vĭd received of her hand [that] which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
36 ¶ And Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il came to Nā‑́băl; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nā‑́băl’s heart [was] merry within him, for he [was] very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nā‑́băl, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became [as] a stone.
38 And it came to pass about ten days [after], that the LORD smote Nā‑́băl, that he died.
39 ¶ And when Dā‑́vĭd heard that Nā‑́băl was dead, he said, Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nā‑́băl, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nā‑́băl upon his own head. And Dā‑́vĭd sent and communed with Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il, to take her to him to wife.
40 And when the servants of Dā‑́vĭd were come to Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il to Cär‑́mĕl, they spake unto her, saying, Dā‑́vĭd sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
41 And she arose, and bowed her­self on [her] face to the earth, and said, Behold, [let] thine hand­maid [be] a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
42 And Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of Dā‑́vĭd, and became his wife.
43 Dā‑́vĭd also took Ă‑hĭn‑́ō‑ăm of Jĕz‑́re᷍el; and they were also both of them his wives.
44 ¶ But Sa᷍ul had given Mī‑́c͟hăl his daughter, Dā‑́vĭd’s wife, to Phăl‑́tī the son of Lā‑́ĭsh, which [was] of Găl‑́lĭm.
CHAPTER 26
And the Zĭph‑́ītes came unto Sa᷍ul to Gĭb‑́ĕ‑ăh, saying, Doth not Dā‑́vĭd hide him­self in the hill of Hă‑c͟hī‑́lăh, [which is] before Jĕ‑shī‑́mo̱n?
2 Then Sa᷍ul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Zĭph, having three thousand chosen men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl with him, to seek Dā‑́vĭd in the wilderness of Zĭph.
3 And Sa᷍ul pitched in the hill of Hă‑c͟hī‑́lăh, which [is] before Jĕ‑shī‑́mo̱n, by the way. But Dā‑́vĭd abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Sa᷍ul came after him into the wilderness.
4 Dā‑́vĭd therefore sent out spies, and under­stood that Sa᷍ul was come in very deed.
5 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd arose, and came to the place where Sa᷍ul had pitched: and Dā‑́vĭd beheld the place where Sa᷍ul lay, and Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr, the captain of his host: and Sa᷍ul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6 Then answered Dā‑́vĭd and said to Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h the Hĭt‑́tīte, and to Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i the son of Zĕr‑ū‑ī‑́ăh, brother to Jō‑́ăb, saying, Who will go down with me to Sa᷍ul to the camp? And Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i said, I will go down with thee.
7 So Dā‑́vĭd and Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i came to the people by night: and, behold, Sa᷍ul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Ăb‑́nĕr and the people lay round about him.
8 Then said Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i to Dā‑́vĭd, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not [smite] him the second time.
9 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ăb‑́ĭ‑sha᷍i, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guilt­less?
10 Dā‑́vĭd said further­more, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
12 So Dā‑́vĭd took the spear and the cruse of water from Sa᷍ul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw [it], nor knew [it], neither awaked: for they [were] all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
13 ¶ Then Dā‑́vĭd went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space [being] between them:
14 And Dā‑́vĭd cried to the people, and to Ăb‑́nĕr the son of Nĕr, saying, Answerest thou not, Ăb‑́nĕr? Then Ăb‑́nĕr answered and said, Who [art] thou [that] criest to the king?
15 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ăb‑́nĕr, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
16 This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] the LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’S anointed. And now see where the king’s spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.
17 And Sa᷍ul knew Dā‑́vĭd’s voice, and said, [Is] this thy voice, my son Dā‑́vĭd? And Dā‑́vĭd said, [It is] my voice, my lord, O king.
18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand?
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if [they be] the children of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
21 ¶ Then said Sa᷍ul, I have sinned: return, my son Dā‑́vĭd: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
22 And Dā‑́vĭd answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into [my] hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed.
24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
25 Then Sa᷍ul said to Dā‑́vĭd, Blessed [be] thou, my son Dā‑́vĭd: thou shalt both do great [things], and also shalt still prevail. So Dā‑́vĭd went on his way, and Sa᷍ul returned to his place.
CHAPTER 27
And Dā‑́vĭd said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Sa᷍ul: [there is] nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ; and Sa᷍ul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: so shall I escape out of his hand.
2 And Dā‑́vĭd arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that [were] with him unto Ā‑́c͟hĭsh, the son of Mā‑́ŏc͟h, king of Găth.
3 And Dā‑́vĭd dwelt with Ā‑́c͟hĭsh at Găth, he and his men, every man with his house­hold, [even] Dā‑́vĭd with his two wives, Ă‑hĭn‑́ō‑ăm the Jĕz‑re᷍el‑ī‑́tĕss, and Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il the Cär‑mĕl‑ī‑́tĕss, Nā‑́băl’s wife.
4 And it was told Sa᷍ul that Dā‑́vĭd was fled to Găth: and he sought no more again for him.
5 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Ā‑́c͟hĭsh, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
6 Then Ā‑́c͟hĭsh gave him Zĭk‑́lăg that day: wherefore Zĭk‑́lăg pertaineth unto the kings of Jûd‑́ăh unto this day.
7 And the time that Dā‑́vĭd dwelt in the country of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ was a full year and four months.
8 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd and his men went up, and invaded the Gĕ‑shū‑́rītes, and the Gĕz‑́rītes, and the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes: for those [nations were] of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shu̇r, even unto the land of Ē‑́ġy̆pt.
9 And Dā‑́vĭd smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Ā‑́c͟hĭsh.
10 And Ā‑́c͟hĭsh said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And Dā‑́vĭd said, Against the south of Jûd‑́ăh, and against the south of the Jĕ‑räh‑́me᷍el‑ītes, and against the south of the Kē‑́nītes.
11 And Dā‑́vĭd saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring [tidings] to Găth, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did Dā‑́vĭd, and so [will be] his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
12 And Ā‑́c͟hĭsh believed Dā‑́vĭd, saying, He hath made his people Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
CHAPTER 28
And it came to pass in those days, that the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl. And Ā‑́c͟hĭsh said unto Dā‑́vĭd, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
2 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ā‑́c͟hĭsh, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Ā‑́c͟hĭsh said to Dā‑́vĭd, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
3 ¶ Now Săm‑́ū‑ĕl was dead, and all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl had lamented him, and buried him in Rā‑́măh, even in his own city. And Sa᷍ul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
4 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ gathered them­selves together, and came and pitched in Shû‑́nĕm: and Sa᷍ul gathered all Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl together, and they pitched in Gĭl‑bō‑́ă.
5 And when Sa᷍ul saw the host of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6 And when Sa᷍ul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Ū‑́rĭm, nor by prophets.
7 ¶ Then said Sa᷍ul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Ĕn–́dôr.
8 And Sa᷍ul disguised him­self, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee.
9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Sa᷍ul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
10 And Sa᷍ul sware to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Săm‑́ū‑ĕl.
12 And when the woman saw Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Sa᷍ul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou [art] Sa᷍ul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Sa᷍ul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle. And Sa᷍ul perceived that it [was] Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, and he stooped with [his] face to the ground, and bowed him­self.
15 ¶ And Săm‑́ū‑ĕl said to Sa᷍ul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Sa᷍ul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
16 Then said Săm‑́ū‑ĕl, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, [even] to Dā‑́vĭd:
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Ăm‑́ă‑lĕk, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
19 More­over the LORD will also deliver Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl with thee into the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ: and to morrow [shalt] thou and thy sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl into the hand of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
20 Then Sa᷍ul fell straight­way all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Săm‑́ū‑ĕl: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
21 ¶ And the woman came unto Sa᷍ul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine hand­maid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine hand­maid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
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.
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:
25 And she brought [it] before Sa᷍ul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
CHAPTER 29
Now the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ gathered together all their armies to Ā‑́phĕk: and the Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl‑ītes pitched by a fountain which [is] in Jĕz‑́re᷍el.
2 And the lords of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but Dā‑́vĭd and his men passed on in the rereward with Ā‑́c͟hĭsh.
3 Then said the princes of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, What [do] these Hē‑́bre̅w̅ṡ [here]? And Ā‑́c͟hĭsh said unto the princes of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, [Is] not this Dā‑́vĭd, the servant of Sa᷍ul the king of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell [unto me] unto this day?
4 And the princes of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ were wroth with him; and the princes of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for where­with should he reconcile him­self unto his master? [should it] not [be] with the heads of these men?
5 [Is] not this Dā‑́vĭd, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Sa᷍ul slew his thousands, and Dā‑́vĭd his ten thousands?
6 ¶ Then Ā‑́c͟hĭsh called Dā‑́vĭd, and said unto him, Surely, [as] the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host [is] good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ.
8 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd said unto Ā‑́c͟hĭsh, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
9 And Ā‑́c͟hĭsh answered and said to Dā‑́vĭd, I know that thou [art] good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwith­standing the princes of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
11 So Dā‑́vĭd and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ. And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ went up to Jĕz‑́re᷍el.
CHAPTER 30
And it came to pass, when Dā‑́vĭd and his men were come to Zĭk‑́lăg on the third day, that the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes had invaded the south, and Zĭk‑́lăg, and smitten Zĭk‑́lăg, and burned it with fire;
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.
3 ¶ So Dā‑́vĭd 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.
4 Then Dā‑́vĭd and the people that [were] with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And Dā‑́vĭd’s two wives were taken captives, Ă‑hĭn‑́ō‑ăm the Jĕz‑re᷍el‑ī‑́tĕss, and Ăb‑́ĭ‑ga͟il the wife of Nā‑́băl the Cär‑́mĕl‑īte.
6 And Dā‑́vĭd was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but Dā‑́vĭd encouraged him­self in the LORD his God.
7 And Dā‑́vĭd said to Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär the priest, Ă‑hĭm‑́ĕ‑lĕc͟h’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ē‑́phŏd. And Ă‑bī‑́ă‑thär brought thither the ē‑́phŏd to Dā‑́vĭd.
8 And Dā‑́vĭd inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I over­take them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely over­take [them], and with­out fail recover [all].
9 So Dā‑́vĭd went, he and the six hundred men that [were] with him, and came to the brook Bē‑́sôr, where those that were left behind stayed.
10 But Dā‑́vĭd pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Bē‑́sôr.
11 ¶ And they found an Ē‑ġy̆p‑́ti̅ăn in the field, and brought him to Dā‑́vĭd, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;
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.
13 And Dā‑́vĭd said unto him, To whom [belongest] thou? and whence [art] thou? And he said, I [am] a young man of Ē‑́ġy̆pt, servant to an Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑īte; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.
14 We made an invasion [upon] the south of the C͟hĕr‑́ĕ‑thītes, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Jûd‑́ăh, and upon the south of Cā‑́lĕb; and we burned Zĭk‑́lăg with fire.
15 And Dā‑́vĭd said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.
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 Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and out of the land of Jûd‑́ăh.
17 And Dā‑́vĭd smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
18 And Dā‑́vĭd recovered all that the Ă‑măl‑́ĕk‑ītes had carried away: and Dā‑́vĭd rescued his two wives.
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: Dā‑́vĭd recovered all.
20 And Dā‑́vĭd took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they drave before those [other] cattle, and said, This [is] Dā‑́vĭd’s spoil.
21 ¶ And Dā‑́vĭd came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow Dā‑́vĭd, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Bē‑́sôr: and they went forth to meet Dā‑́vĭd, and to meet the people that [were] with him: and when Dā‑́vĭd came near to the people, he saluted them.
22 Then answered all the wicked men and [men] of Bē‑́lĭ‑ăl, of those that went with Dā‑́vĭd, 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.
23 Then said Dā‑́vĭd, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part [is] that goeth down to the battle, so [shall] his part [be] that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
25 And it was [so] from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl unto this day.
26 ¶ And when Dā‑́vĭd came to Zĭk‑́lăg, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Jûd‑́ăh, [even] to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;
27 To [them] which [were] in Bĕth–́ĕl, and to [them] which [were] in south Rā‑́mŏth, and to [them] which [were] in Jăt‑́tĭr,
28 And to [them] which [were] in Ă‑rō‑́ĕr, and to [them] which [were] in Sĭph‑́mōth, and to [them] which [were] in Ĕsh‑tĕ‑mō‑́ă,
29 And to [them] which [were] in Rā‑́c͟hăl, and to [them] which [were] in the cities of the Jĕ‑räh‑́me᷍el‑ītes, and to [them] which [were] in the cities of the Kē‑́nītes,
30 And to [them] which [were] in Hôr‑́măh, and to [them] which [were] in C͟hôr–ăsh‑́ăn, and to [them] which [were] in Ā‑́thăc͟h,
31 And to [them] which [were] in Hē‑́brŏn, and to all the places where Dā‑́vĭd him­self and his men were wont to haunt.
CHAPTER 31
Now the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ fought against Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl: and the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl fled from before the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ, and fell down slain in mount Gĭl‑bō‑́ă.
2 And the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ followed hard upon Sa᷍ul and upon his sons; and the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ slew Jŏn‑́ă‑thăn, and Ă‑bĭn‑́ă‑dăb, and Măl‑́chī–shû‑́ă, Sa᷍ul’s sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Sa᷍ul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Sa᷍ul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through there­with; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Sa᷍ul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Sa᷍ul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Sa᷍ul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
7 ¶ And when the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl that [were] on the other side of the valley, and [they] that [were] on the other side Jôr‑́dăn, saw that the men of Ĭṡ‑́rā‑ĕl fled, and that Sa᷍ul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ came and dwelt in them.
8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ came to strip the slain, that they found Sa᷍ul and his three sons fallen in mount Gĭl‑bō‑́ă.
9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ round about, to publish [it in] the house of their idols, and among the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of Ăsh‑́tă‑rōth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bĕth–́shăn.
11 ¶ And when the inhabitants of Jā‑́bĕsh–gĭl‑́ĕ‑ăd heard of that which the Phĭl‑́ĭs‑tīneṡ had done to Sa᷍ul;
12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Sa᷍ul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bĕth–́shăn, and came to Jā‑́bĕsh, and burnt them there.
13 And they took their bones, and buried [them] under a tree at Jā‑́bĕsh, and fasted seven days.