[1 Samuel 1]
1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount
Ephraim, and his name [was] Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the
son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one [was] Hannah,
and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children,
but Hannah had no children.
1:3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship
and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two
sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD,
[were] there.
1:4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to
Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters,
portions:
1:5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved
Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
1:6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her
fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
1:7 And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the
house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and
did not eat.
1:8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest
thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?
[am] not I better to thee than ten sons?
1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and
after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a
post of the temple of the LORD.
1:10 And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the
LORD, and wept sore.
1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou
wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and
remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto
thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD
all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon
his head.
1:12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the
LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
1:13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved,
but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been
drunken.
1:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken?
put away thy wine from thee.
1:15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a
woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor
strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
1:16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for
out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken
hitherto.
1:17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of
Israel grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy
sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her
countenance was no more [sad].
1:19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped
before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to
Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD
remembered her.
1:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about
after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his
name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.
1:21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer
unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1:22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband,
[I will not go up] until the child be weaned, and [then] I will
bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide
for ever.
1:23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth
thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD
establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck
until she weaned him.
1:24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her,
with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of
wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and
the child [was] young.
1:25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
1:26 And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord,
I [am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the
LORD.
1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my
petition which I asked of him:
1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as
he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the
LORD there.
[1 Samuel 2]
2:1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the
LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged
over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2:2 [There is] none holy as the LORD: for [there is] none
beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like our God.
2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy
come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
2:4 The bows of the mighty men [are] broken, and they that
stumbled are girded with strength.
2:5 [They that were] full have hired out themselves for
bread; and [they that were] hungry ceased: so that the barren
hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed
feeble.
2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to
the grave, and bringeth up.
2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low,
and lifteth up.
2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up
the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and
to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of
the earth [are] the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon
them.
2:9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall
be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
2:10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;
out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge
the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his
king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
2:11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child
did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
2:12 Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they knew not
the LORD.
2:13 And the priests' custom with the people [was, that],
when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came,
while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three
teeth in his hand;
2:14 And he struck [it] into the pan, or kettle, or caldron,
or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for
himself. So they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that
came thither.
2:15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant
came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast
for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but
raw.
2:16 And [if] any man said unto him, Let them not fail to
burn the fat presently, and [then] take [as much] as thy soul
desireth; then he would answer him, [Nay]; but thou shalt give
[it me] now: and if not, I will take [it] by force.
2:17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before
the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, [being] a child,
girded with a linen ephod.
2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought
[it] to him from year to year, when she came up with her
husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
2:20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD
give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the
LORD. And they went unto their own home.
2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and
bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew
before the LORD.
2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did
unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled
[at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
2:23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear
of your evil dealings by all this people.
2:24 Nay, my sons; for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye
make the LORD's people to transgress.
2:25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge
him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for
him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their
father, because the LORD would slay them.
2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both
with the LORD, and also with men.
2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him,
Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy
father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel [to
be] my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to
wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy
father all the offerings made by fire of the children of
Israel?
2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,
which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest thy
sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all
the offerings of Israel my people?
2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed
[that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk
before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me;
for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me
shall be lightly esteemed.
2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm,
and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an
old man in thine house.
2:32 And thou shalt see an enemy [in my] habitation, in all
[the wealth] which [God] shall give Israel: and there shall not
be an old man in thine house for ever.
2:33 And the man of thine, [whom] I shall not cut off from
mine altar, [shall be] to consume thine eyes, and to grieve
thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in
the flower of their age.
2:34 And this [shall be] a sign unto thee, that shall come
upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they
shall die both of them.
2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, [that] shall
do according to [that] which [is] in mine heart and in my mind:
and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before
mine anointed for ever.
2:36 And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left
in thine house shall come [and] crouch to him for a piece of
silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray
thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece
of bread.
[1 Samuel 3]
3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli.
And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; [there
was] no open vision.
3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli [was] laid
down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, [that] he
could not see;
3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the
LORD, where the ark of God [was], and Samuel was laid down [to
sleep];
3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here [am]
I.
3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou
calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he
went and lay down.
3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose
and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me.
And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the
word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he
arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst
call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it
shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD;
for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his
place.
3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other
times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy
servant heareth.
3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing
in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it
shall tingle.
3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all [things]
which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will
also make an end.
3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever
for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made
themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that
the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice
nor offering for ever.
3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors
of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the
vision.
3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he
answered, Here [am] I.
3:17 And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath
said unto thee? I pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to
thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from me of all
the things that he said unto thee.
3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from
him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him
good.
3:19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let
none of his words fall to the ground.
3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that
Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD.
3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD
revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
[1 Samuel 4]
4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel
went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside
Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
4:2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against
Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before
the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about
four thousand men.
4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders
of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day
before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of
the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us,
it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from
thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which
dwelleth [between] the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, [were] there with the ark of the covenant
of God.
4:5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into
the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the
earth rang again.
4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout,
they said, What [meaneth] the noise of this great shout in the
camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the
LORD was come into the camp.
4:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is
come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath
not been such a thing heretofore.
4:8 Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of
these mighty Gods? these [are] the Gods that smote the
Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
4:9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye
Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they
have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and
they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great
slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli,
Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
4:12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and
came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with
earth upon his head.
4:13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside
watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when
the man came into the city, and told [it], all the city cried
out.
4:14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said,
What [meaneth] the noise of this tumult? And the man came in
hastily, and told Eli.
4:15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes
were dim, that he could not see.
4:16 And the man said unto Eli, I [am] he that came out of
the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What
is there done, my son?
4:17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled
before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great
slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and
Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
4:18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of
God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the
gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man,
and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
4:19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child,
[near] to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the
ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her
husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her
pains came upon her.
4:20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by
her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast borne a son. But she
answered not, neither did she regard [it].
4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is
departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and
because of her father in law and her husband.
4:22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the
ark of God is taken.
[1 Samuel 5]
5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it
from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
5:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it
into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
5:3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow,
behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the earth before
the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his
place again.
5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold,
Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark
of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his
hands [were] cut off upon the threshold; only [the stump of]
Dagon was left to him.
5:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come
into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod
unto this day.
5:6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod,
and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, [even]
Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
5:7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that [it was] so, they
said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for
his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the
Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark
of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God
of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark
of the God of Israel about [thither].
5:9 And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about,
the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great
destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and
great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
5:10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came
to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites
cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God
of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
5:11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the
Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel,
and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and
our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all
the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
5:12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods:
and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
[1 Samuel 6]
6:1 And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the
Philistines seven months.
6:2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the
diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell
us wherewith we shall send it to his place.
6:3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of
Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a
trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be
known to you why his hand is not removed from you.
6:4 Then said they, What [shall be] the trespass offering
which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden
emerods, and five golden mice, [according to] the number of the
lords of the Philistines: for one plague [was] on you all, and
on your lords.
6:5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and
images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory
unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand
from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
6:6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians
and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought
wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and
they departed?
6:7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine,
on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart,
and bring their calves home from them:
6:8 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart;
and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him [for] a
trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it
away, that it may go.
6:9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to
Bethshemesh, [then] he hath done us this great evil: but if
not, then we shall know that [it is] not his hand [that] smote
us: it [was] a chance [that] happened to us.
6:10 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied
them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
6:11 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the
coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.
6:12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of
Bethshemesh, [and] went along the highway, lowing as they went,
and turned not aside [to] the right hand or [to] the left; and
the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of
Bethshemesh.
6:13 And [they of] Bethshemesh [were] reaping their wheat
harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw
the ark, and rejoiced to see [it].
6:14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a
Bethshemite, and stood there, where [there was] a great stone:
and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a
burnt offering unto the LORD.
6:15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the
coffer that [was] with it, wherein the jewels of gold [were],
and put [them] on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh
offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day
unto the LORD.
6:16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen
[it], they returned to Ekron the same day.
6:17 And these [are] the golden emerods which the Philistines
returned [for] a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod
one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron
one;
6:18 And the golden mice, [according to] the number of all
the cities of the Philistines [belonging] to the five lords,
[both] of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the
great [stone of] Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the
LORD: [which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of
Joshua, the Bethshemite.
6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had
looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people
fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people
lamented, because the LORD had smitten [many] of the people
with a great slaughter.
6:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand
before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
6:21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of
Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the
ark of the LORD; come ye down, [and] fetch it up to you.
[1 Samuel 7]
7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark
of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the
hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the
LORD.
7:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in
Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years:
and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If
ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, [then] put
away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare
your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will
deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and
Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will
pray for you unto the LORD.
7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and
poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and
said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged
the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7:7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of
Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the
Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of
Israel heard [it], they were afraid of the Philistines.
7:8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to
cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of
the hand of the Philistines.
7:9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered [it for] a
burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the
LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
7:10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the
Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD
thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the
Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before
Israel.
7:11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued
the Philistines, and smote them, until [they came] under
Bethcar.
7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh
and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto
hath the LORD helped us.
7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more
into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against
the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
7:14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from
Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and
the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the
Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the
Amorites.
7:15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
7:16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and
Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
7:17 And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his
house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar
unto the LORD.
[1 Samuel 8]
8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made
his sons judges over Israel.
8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of
his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beersheba.
8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside
after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves
together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons
walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all
the nations.
8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us
a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of
the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not
rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not
reign over them.
8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the
day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day,
wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do
they also unto thee.
8:9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet
protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the
king that shall reign over them.
8:10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the
people that asked of him a king.
8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that
shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint
[them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen;
and [some] shall run before his chariots.
8:12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and
captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground,
and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war,
and instruments of his chariots.
8:13 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries,
and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.
8:14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and
your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to
his servants.
8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your
vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
8:16 And he will take your menservants, and your
maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and
put [them] to his work.
8:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be
his servants.
8:18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king
which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you
in that day.
8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of
Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
8:20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our
king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he
rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
8:22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice,
and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel,
Go ye every man unto his city.
[1 Samuel 9]
9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish,
the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the
son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
9:2 And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice young
man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of
Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward
[he was] higher than any of the people.
9:3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish
said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee,
and arise, go seek the asses.
9:4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through
the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they
passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not:
and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they
found [them] not.
9:5 [And] when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said
to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return;
lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and take thought
for us.
9:6 And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city
a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith
cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he
can show us our way that we should go.
9:7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go,
what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our
vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of
God: what have we?
9:8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I
have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that]
will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9:9 (Beforetime in Israel, 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.)
9:10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us
go. So they went unto the city where the man of God [was].
9:11 [And] as they went up the hill to the city, they found
young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is
the seer here?
9:12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is]
before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for
[there is] a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
9:13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall
straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat:
for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth
bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that be bidden.
Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find
him.
9:14 And they went up into the city: [and] when they were
come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for
to go up to the high place.
9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before
Saul came, saying,
9:16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of
the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him [to be] captain
over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the
hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people,
because their cry is come unto me.
9:17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold
the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my
people.
9:18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said,
Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is].
9:19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I [am] the seer: go
up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to
day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all
that [is] in thine heart.
9:20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago,
set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is]
all the desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy
father's house?
9:21 And Saul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benjamite, of
the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least
of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then
speakest thou so to me?
9:22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them
into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among
them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons.
9:23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I
gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
9:24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which
[was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said,
Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat: for
unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have
invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
9:25 And when they were come down from the high place into
the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the
house.
9:26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the
spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the
house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose,
and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
9:27 [And] as they were going down to the end of the city,
Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he
passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee
the word of God.
[1 Samuel 10]
10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his
head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not because the LORD
hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance?
10:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt
find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at
Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou
wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the
care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I
do for my son?
10:3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou
shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee
three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids,
and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another
carrying a bottle of wine:
10:4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two [loaves] of
bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
10:5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where
[is] the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to
pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt
meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with
a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them;
and they shall prophesy:
10:6 And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou
shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
10:7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee,
[that] thou do as occasion serve thee; for God [is] with thee.
10:8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold,
I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, [and] to
sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou
tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.
10:9 And it was [so], that when he had turned his back to go
from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs
came to pass that day.
10:10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a
company of prophets met him; and the spirit of God came upon
him, and he prophesied among them.
10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime
saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the
people said one to another, What [is] this [that] is come unto
the son of Kish? [Is] Saul also among the prophets?
10:12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who
[is] their father? Therefore it became a proverb, [Is] Saul
also among the prophets?
10:13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to
the high place.
10:14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant,
Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we
saw that [they were] no where, we came to Samuel.
10:15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what
Samuel said unto you.
10:16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that
the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof
Samuel spake, he told him not.
10:17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to
Mizpeh;
10:18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the
LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and
delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the
hand of all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed you:
10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself
saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations;
and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now
therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes,
and by your thousands.
10:20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to
come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
10:21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near
by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the
son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not
be found.
10:22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man
should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath
hid himself among the stuff.
10:23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood
among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his
shoulders and upward.
10:24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the
LORD hath chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the
people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the
king.
10:25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom,
and wrote [it] in a book, and laid [it] up before the LORD. And
Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
10:26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with
him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
10:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man
save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents.
But he held his peace.
[1 Samuel 11]
11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against
Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make
a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.
11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this
[condition] will I make [a covenant] with you, that I may
thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it [for] a reproach
upon all Israel.
11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven
days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts
of Israel: and then, if [there be] no man to save us, we will
come out to thee.
11:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the
tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up
their voices, and wept.
11:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field;
and Saul said, What [aileth] the people that they weep? And
they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
11:6 And the spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those
tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces,
and sent [them] throughout all the coasts of Israel by the
hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after
Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And
the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with
one consent.
11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of
Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty
thousand.
11:9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall
ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time]
the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and
showed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
11:10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will
come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth
good unto you.
11:11 And it was [so] on the morrow, that Saul put the people
in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in
the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the
day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were
scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
11:12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who [is] he that said,
Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them
to death.
11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death
this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to
Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made
Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed
sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul
and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
[1 Samuel 12]
12:1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have
hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have
made a king over you.
12:2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am
old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons [are] with you: and I
have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
12:3 Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the LORD,
and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass
have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed?
or of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes
therewith? and I will restore it you.
12:4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed
us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
12:5 And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness against
you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not
found ought in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness.
12:6 And Samuel said unto the people, [It is] the LORD that
advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out
of the land of Egypt.
12:7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you
before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he
did to you and to your fathers.
12:8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried
unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which
brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in
this place.
12:9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them
into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into
the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of
Moab, and they fought against them.
12:10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned,
because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and
Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies,
and we will serve thee.
12:11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah,
and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies
on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
12:12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of
Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall
reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king.
12:13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen,
[and] whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a
king over you.
12:14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his
voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then
shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue
following the LORD your God:
12:15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but
rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand
of the LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers.
12:16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the
LORD will do before your eyes.
12:17 [Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the
LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive
and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in
the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
12:18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent
thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared
the LORD and Samuel.
12:19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy
servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have
added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.
12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done
all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the
LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
12:21 And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after
vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are]
vain.
12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great
name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his
people.
12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin
against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach
you the good and the right way:
12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all
your heart; for consider how great [things] he hath done for
you.
12:25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be
consumed, both ye and your king.
[1 Samuel 13]
13:1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years
over Israel,
13:2 Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof]
two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel,
and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and
the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that
[was] in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew
the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews
hear.
13:4 And all Israel heard say [that] Saul had smitten a
garrison of the Philistines, and [that] Israel also was had in
abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called
together after Saul to Gilgal.
13:5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to
fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand
horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the sea shore in
multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward
from Bethaven.
13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait,
(for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide
themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high
places, and in pits.
13:7 And [some of] the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land
of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all
the people followed him trembling.
13:8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time
that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and
the people were scattered from him.
13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and
peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
13:10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end
of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul
went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said,
Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and
[that] thou camest not within the days appointed, and [that]
the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now
upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the
LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou
hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he
commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy
kingdom upon Israel for ever.
13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath
sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath
commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou
hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee.
13:15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto
Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people [that were]
present with him, about six hundred men.
13:16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people [that
were] present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the
Philistines encamped in Michmash.
13:17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the
Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way
[that leadeth to] Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:
13:18 And another company turned the way [to] Bethhoron: and
another company turned [to] the way of the border that looketh
to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
13:19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of
Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [them]
swords or spears:
13:20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to
sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his ax, and
his mattock.
13:21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the
coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen
the goads.
13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was
neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people
that [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with
Jonathan his son was there found.
13:23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the
passage of Michmash.
[1 Samuel 14]
14:1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of
Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and
let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that [is] on the
other side. But he told not his father.
14:2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a
pomegranate tree which [is] in Migron: and the people that
[were] with him [were] about six hundred men;
14:3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son
of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh,
wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was
gone.
14:4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go
over unto the Philistines' garrison, [there was] a sharp rock
on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the
name of the one [was] Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
14:5 The forefront of the one [was] situate northward over
against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour,
Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these
uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for
[there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
14:7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in
thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to
thy heart.
14:8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto
[these] men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
14:9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you;
then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto
them.
14:10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go
up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this
[shall be] a sign unto us.
14:11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the
garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold,
the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid
themselves.
14:12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his
armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a
thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after
me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
14:13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his
feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before
Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
14:14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his
armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an
half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].
14:15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and
among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also
trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great
trembling.
14:16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked;
and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on
beating down [one another].
14:17 Then said Saul unto the people that [were] with him,
Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had
numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer [were] not
[there].
14:18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God.
For the ark of God was at that time with the children of
Israel.
14:19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest,
that the noise that [was] in the host of the Philistines went
on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine
hand.
14:20 And Saul and all the people that [were] with him
assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold,
every man's sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a
very great discomfiture.
14:21 Moreover the Hebrews [that] were with the Philistines
before that time, which went up with them into the camp [from
the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with
the Israelites that [were] with Saul and Jonathan.
14:22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves
in mount Ephraim, [when] they heard that the Philistines fled,
even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle
passed over unto Bethaven.
14:24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for
Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed [be] the man that
eateth [any] food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine
enemies. So none of the people tasted [any] food.
14:25 And all [they of] the land came to a wood; and there
was honey upon the ground.
14:26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold,
the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for
the people feared the oath.
14:27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the
people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod
that [was] in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put
his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
14:28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father
straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed [be]
the man that eateth [any] food this day. And the people were
faint.
14:29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land:
see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I
tasted a little of this honey.
14:30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to
day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had
there not been now a much greater slaughter among the
Philistines?
14:31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash
to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
14:32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and
oxen, and calves, and slew [them] on the ground: and the people
did eat [them] with the blood.
14:33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin
against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said,
Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
14:34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people,
and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every
man his sheep, and slay [them] here, and eat; and sin not
against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people
brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew [them]
there.
14:35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the
first altar that he built unto the LORD.
14:36 And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by
night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not
leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good
unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto
God.
14:37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after
the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of
Israel? But he answered him not that day.
14:38 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of
the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this
day.
14:39 For, [as] the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though
it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But [there was]
not a man among all the people [that] answered him.
14:40 Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I
and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people
said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.
14:41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a
perfect [lot]. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people
escaped.
14:42 And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my
son. And Jonathan was taken.
14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast
done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little
honey with the end of the rod that [was] in mine hand, [and],
lo, I must die.
14:44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou
shalt surely die, Jonathan.
14:45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who
hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: [as]
the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to
the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the
people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
14:46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and
the Philistines went to their own place.
14:47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought
against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and
against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against
the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and
whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them].
14:48 And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and
delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and
Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters [were these];
the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger
Michal:
14:50 And the name of Saul's wife [was] Ahinoam, the daughter
of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host [was]
Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.
14:51 And Kish [was] the father of Saul; and Ner the father
of Abner [was] the son of Abiel.
14:52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the
days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant
man, he took him unto him.
[1 Samuel 15]
15:1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint
thee [to be] king over his people, over Israel: now therefore
hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which
Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way,
when he came up from Egypt.
15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that
they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman,
infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
15:4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them
in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men
of Judah.
15:5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the
valley.
15:6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down
from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye
showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came
up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the
Amalekites.
15:7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah [until] thou
comest to Shur, that [is] over against Egypt.
15:8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and
utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the
sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and
all [that was] good, and would not utterly destroy them: but
every thing [that was] vile and refuse, that they destroyed
utterly.
15:10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul [to be] king:
for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed
my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the
LORD all night.
15:12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning,
it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold,
he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and
gone down to Gilgal.
15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him,
Blessed [be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment
of the LORD.
15:14 And Samuel said, What [meaneth] then this bleating of
the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I
hear?
15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the
Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of
the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we
have utterly destroyed.
15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee
what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him,
Say on.
15:17 And Samuel said, When thou [wast] little in thine own
sight, [wast] thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Israel,
and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
15:18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and
utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against
them until they be consumed.
15:19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the
LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight
of the LORD?
15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice
of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and
have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly
destroyed the Amalekites.
15:21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the
chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed,
to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in
burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the
LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to
hearken than the fat of rams.
15:23 For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast
rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from
[being] king.
15:24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have
transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words:
because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
15:25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn
again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee:
for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath
rejected thee from being king over Israel.
15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold
upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
15:28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the
kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a
neighbour of thine, [that is] better than thou.
15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor
repent: for he [is] not a man, that he should repent.
15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: [yet] honour me now, I
pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel,
and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
15:31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped
the LORD.
15:32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king
of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag
said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
15:33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women
childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And
Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
15:34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his
house to Gibeah of Saul.
15:35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of
his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD
repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
[1 Samuel 16]
16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn
for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?
fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the
Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
16:2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear [it], he
will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and
say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
16:3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee
what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me [him] whom I
name unto thee.
16:4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to
Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming,
and said, Comest thou peaceably?
16:5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the
LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.
And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the
sacrifice.
16:6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked
on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed [is] before him.
16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his
countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have
refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the
heart.
16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before
Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither
hath the LORD chosen this.
16:10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before
Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen
these.
16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all [thy]
children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and,
behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send
and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy,
[and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.
And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he.
16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in
the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the LORD came upon
David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to
Ramah.
16:14 But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an
evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
16:15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil
spirit from God troubleth thee.
16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, [which are]
before thee, to seek out a man, [who is] a cunning player on an
harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God
is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt
be well.
16:17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man
that can play well, and bring [him] to me.
16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I
have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in
playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and
prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with
him.
16:19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said,
Send me David thy son, which [is] with the sheep.
16:20 And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle
of wine, and a kid, and sent [them] by David his son unto Saul.
16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he
loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
16:22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee,
stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
16:23 And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God
was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his
hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit
departed from him.
[1 Samuel 17]
17:1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to
battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which
[belongeth] to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah,
in Ephesdammin.
17:2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together,
and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array
against the Philistines.
17:3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side,
and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and [there
was] a valley between them.
17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the
Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height [was] six
cubits and a span.
17:5 And [he had] an helmet of brass upon his head, and he
[was] armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat
[was] five thousand shekels of brass.
17:6 And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a
target of brass between his shoulders.
17:7 And the staff of his spear [was] like a weaver's beam;
and his spear's head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and
one bearing a shield went before him.
17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and
said unto them, Why are ye come out to set [your] battle in
array? [am] not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose
you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
17:9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then
will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and
kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel
this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the
Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
17:12 Now David [was] the son of that Ephrathite of
Bethlehemjudah, whose name [was] Jesse; and he had eight sons:
and the man went among men [for] an old man in the days of
Saul.
17:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went [and] followed
Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went
to the battle [were] Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him
Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
17:14 And David [was] the youngest: and the three eldest
followed Saul.
17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his
father's sheep at Bethlehem.
17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and
presented himself forty days.
17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy
brethren an ephah of this parched [corn], and these ten loaves,
and run to the camp to thy brethren;
17:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of [their]
thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their
pledge.
17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, [were]
in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the
sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded
him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to
the fight, and shouted for the battle.
17:21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in
array, army against army.
17:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper
of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted
his brethren.
17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the
champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the
armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same
words: and David heard [them].
17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled
from him, and were sore afraid.
17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that
is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall
be, [that] the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him
with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his
father's house free in Israel.
17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying,
What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and
taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who [is] this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the
living God?
17:27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying,
So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto
the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he
said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left
those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the
naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou
mightest see the battle.
17:29 And David said, What have I now done? [Is there] not a
cause?
17:30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after
the same manner: and the people answered him again after the
former manner.
17:31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they
rehearsed [them] before Saul: and he sent for him.
17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because
of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against
this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth,
and he a man of war from his youth.
17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's
sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out
of the flock:
17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered
[it] out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught
[him] by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this
uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he
hath defied the armies of the living God.
17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of
the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will
deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said
unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
17:38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an
helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of
mail.
17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he
assayed to go; for he had not proved [it]. And David said unto
Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved [them]. And
David put them off him.
17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five
smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's
bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his
hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David;
and the man that bare the shield [went] before him.
17:42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he
disdained him: for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a
fair countenance.
17:43 And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that
thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David
by his gods.
17:44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I
will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the
beasts of the field.
17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me
with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come
to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies
of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and
I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will
give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto
the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that
all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth
not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD's, and
he will give you into our hands.
17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and
came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran
toward the army to meet the Philistine.
17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a
stone, and slang [it], and smote the Philistine in his
forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell
upon his face to the earth.
17:50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and
with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but
[there was] no sword in the hand of David.
17:51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and
took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew
him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines
saw their champion was dead, they fled.
17:52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted,
and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and
to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell
down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
17:53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after
the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought
it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
17:55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the
Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner,
whose son [is] this youth? And Abner said, [As] thy soul
liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
17:56 And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling
[is].
17:57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the
Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with
the head of the Philistine in his hand.
17:58 And Saul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou]
young man? And David answered, I [am] the son of thy servant
Jesse the Bethlehemite.
[1 Samuel 18]
18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking
unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of
David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more
home to his father's house.
18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he
loved him as his own soul.
18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was]
upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his
sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and]
behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war,
and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in
the sight of Saul's servants.
18:6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was
returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women
came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet
king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of
music.
18:7 And the women answered [one another] as they played, and
said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten
thousands.
18:8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him;
and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and
to me they have ascribed [but] thousands: and [what] can he
have more but the kingdom?
18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit
from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the
house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and
[there was] a javelin in Saul's hand.
18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite
David even to the wall [with it]. And David avoided out of his
presence twice.
18:12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with
him, and was departed from Saul.
18:13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his
captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the
people.
18:14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and
the LORD [was] with him.
18:15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very
wisely, he was afraid of him.
18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went
out and came in before them.
18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab,
her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and
fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be
upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who [am] I? and what [is] my
life, [or] my father's family in Israel, that I should be son
in law to the king?
18:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's
daughter should have been given to David, that she was given
unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
18:20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told
Saul, and the thing pleased him.
18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a
snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be
against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day
be my son in law in [the one of] the twain.
18:22 And Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with
David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee,
and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son
in law.
18:23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of
David. And David said, Seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to
be a king's son in law, seeing that I [am] a poor man, and
lightly esteemed?
18:24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this
manner spake David.
18:25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king
desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the
Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul
thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
18:26 And when his servants told David these words, it
pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days
were not expired.
18:27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and
slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought
their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king,
that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him
Michal his daughter to wife.
18:28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with David,
and [that] Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
18:29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul
became David's enemy continually.
18:30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it
came to pass, after they went forth, [that] David behaved
himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his
name was much set by.
[1 Samuel 19]
19:1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his
servants, that they should kill David.
19:2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and
Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill
thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until
the morning, and abide in a secret [place], and hide thyself:
19:3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the
field where thou [art], and I will commune with my father of
thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
19:4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father,
and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant,
against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and
because his works [have been] to thee-ward very good:
19:5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the
Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all
Israel: thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice: wherefore then
wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a
cause?
19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul
sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
19:7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all
those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in
his presence, as in times past.
19:8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought
with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and
they fled from him.
19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he
sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played
with [his] hand.
19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with
the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he
smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped
that night.
19:11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch
him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife
told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow
thou shalt be slain.
19:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went,
and fled, and escaped.
19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid [it] in the bed, and
put a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster, and covered [it]
with a cloth.
19:14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said,
He [is] sick.
19:15 And Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David,
saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
19:16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there
was] an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' [hair] for
his bolster.
19:17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me
so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal
answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill
thee?
19:18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to
Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and
Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
19:19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David [is] at
Naioth in Ramah.
19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they
saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel
standing [as] appointed over them, the spirit of God was upon
the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
19:21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers,
and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again
the third time, and they prophesied also.
19:22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well
that [is] in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where [are] Samuel
and David? And [one] said, Behold, [they be] at Naioth in
Ramah.
19:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit
of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until
he came to Naioth in Ramah.
19:24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied
before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day
and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul also among
the prophets?
[1 Samuel 20]
20:1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said
before Jonathan, What have I done? what [is] mine iniquity? and
what [is] my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
20:2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die:
behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but
that he will show it me: and why should my father hide this
thing from me? it [is] not [so].
20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly
knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith,
Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as]
the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a
step between me and death.
20:4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul
desireth, I will even do [it] for thee.
20:5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow [is] the
new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat:
but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the
third [day] at even.
20:6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly
asked [leave] of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city:
for [there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
20:7 If he say thus, [It is] well; thy servant shall have
peace: but if he be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is
determined by him.
20:8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for
thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with
thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me
thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
20:9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew
certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon
thee, then would not I tell it thee?
20:10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what
[if] thy father answer thee roughly?
20:11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out
into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.
20:12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel,
when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, [or]
the third [day], and, behold, [if there be] good toward David,
and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee;
20:13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it
please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will show it thee,
and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD
be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
20:14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the
kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
20:15 But [also] thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my
house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies
of David every one from the face of the earth.
20:16 So Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David,
[saying], Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of David's
enemies.
20:17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he
loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
20:18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow [is] the new
moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
20:19 And [when] thou hast stayed three days, [then] thou
shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst
hide thyself when the business was [in hand], and shalt remain
by the stone Ezel.
20:20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side [thereof], as
though I shot at a mark.
20:21 And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying], Go, find out
the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows
[are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for
[there is] peace to thee, and no hurt; [as] the LORD liveth.
20:22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the
arrows [are] beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent
thee away.
20:23 And [as touching] the matter which thou and I have
spoken of, behold, the LORD [be] between thee and me for ever.
20:24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new
moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
20:25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times,
[even] upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner
sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
20:26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he
thought, Something hath befallen him, he [is] not clean; surely
he [is] not clean.
20:27 And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the
second [day] of the month, that David's place was empty: and
Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son
of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
20:28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked
[leave] of me [to go] to Bethlehem:
20:29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family
hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded
me [to be there]: and now, if I have found favour in thine
eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren.
Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.
20:30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he
said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious [woman], do
not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own
confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
20:31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground,
thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now
send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
20:32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto
him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
20:33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby
Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay
David.
20:34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and
did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved
for David, because his father had done him shame.
20:35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went
out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a
little lad with him.
20:36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows
which I shoot. [And] as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond
him.
20:37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow
which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and
said, [Is] not the arrow beyond thee?
20:38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste,
stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came
to his master.
20:39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David
knew the matter.
20:40 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said
unto him, Go, carry [them] to the city.
20:41 [And] as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of
[a place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground,
and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and
wept one with another, until David exceeded.
20:42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as
we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The
LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed
for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the
city.
[1 Samuel 21]
21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and
Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto
him, Why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee?
21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath
commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know
any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I
have commanded thee: and I have appointed [my] servants to such
and such a place.
21:3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give [me] five
[loaves of] bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
21:4 And the priest answered David, and said, [There is] no
common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if
the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a
truth women [have been] kept from us about these three days,
since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy,
and [the bread is] in a manner common, yea, though it were
sanctified this day in the vessel.
21:6 So the priest gave him hallowed [bread]: for there was
no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before
the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
21:7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul [was] there
that day, detained before the LORD; and his name [was] Doeg, an
Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that [belonged] to Saul.
21:8 And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here
under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my
sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business
required haste.
21:9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the
Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it
[is here] wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt
take that, take [it]: for [there is] no other save that here.
And David said, [There is] none like that; give it me.
21:10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul,
and went to Achish the king of Gath.
21:11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, [Is] not this
David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of
him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David
his ten thousands?
21:12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was
sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
21:13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned
himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the
gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
21:14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man
is mad: wherefore [then] have ye brought him to me?
21:15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this
[fellow] to play the mad man in my presence? shall this
[fellow] come into my house?
[1 Samuel 22]
22:1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave
Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard
[it], they went down thither to him.
22:2 And every one [that was] in distress, and every one that
[was] in debt, and every one [that was] discontented, gathered
themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and
there were with him about four hundred men.
22:3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said
unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray
thee, come forth, [and be] with you, till I know what God will
do for me.
22:4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they
dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
22:5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the
hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David
departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
22:6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men
that [were] with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in
Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants
[were] standing about him;)
22:7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him,
Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one
of you fields and vineyards, [and] make you all captains of
thousands, and captains of hundreds;
22:8 That all of you have conspired against me, and [there
is] none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with
the son of Jesse, and [there is] none of you that is sorry for
me, or showeth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant
against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
22:9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the
servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to
Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
22:10 And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him
victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
22:11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the
son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that
[were] in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
22:12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he
answered, Here I [am], my lord.
22:13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against
me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him
bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he
should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
22:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who [is
so] faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the
king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable
in thine house?
22:15 Did I then begin to 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.
22:16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech,
thou, and all thy father's house.
22:17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about
him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand
also [is] with David, and because they knew when he fled, and
did not show it to me. But the servants of the king would not
put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
22:18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the
priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the
priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that
did wear a linen ephod.
22:19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the
edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings,
and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
22:20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub,
named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
22:21 And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the
LORD'S priests.
22:22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew [it] that day,
when Doeg the Edomite [was] there, that he would surely tell
Saul: I have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of thy
father's house.
22:23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my
life seeketh thy life: but with me thou [shalt be] in
safeguard.
[1 Samuel 23]
23:1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines
fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
23:2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go
and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go,
and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
23:3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here
in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the
armies of the Philistines?
23:4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD
answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will
deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
23:5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the
Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with
a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
23:6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech
fled to David to Keilah, [that] he came down [with] an ephod in
his hand.
23:7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And
Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is
shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
23:8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go
down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
23:9 And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief
against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither
the ephod.
23:10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath
certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy
the city for my sake.
23:11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand?
will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of
Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He
will come down.
23:12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and
my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will
deliver [thee] up.
23:13 Then David and his men, [which were] about six hundred,
arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they
could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from
Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
23:14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and
remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul
sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
23:15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life:
and David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
23:16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into
the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
23:17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my
father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel,
and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father
knoweth.
23:18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David
abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
23:19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying,
Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the
wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] on the south of
Jeshimon?
23:20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the
desire of thy soul to come down; and our part [shall be] to
deliver him into the king's hand.
23:21 And Saul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have
compassion on me.
23:22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place
where his haunt is, [and] who hath seen him there: for it is
told me [that] he dealeth very subtly.
23:23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking
places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with
the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to
pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out
throughout all the thousands of Judah.
23:24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David
and his men [were] in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on
the south of Jeshimon.
23:25 Saul also and his men went to seek [him]. And they told
David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the
wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard [that], he pursued
after David in the wilderness of Maon.
23:26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David
and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste
to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed
David and his men round about to take them.
23:27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste
thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
23:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and
went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place
Selahammahlekoth.
23:29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong
holds at Engedi.
[1 Samuel 24]
24:1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from
following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying,
Behold, David [is] in the wilderness of Engedi.
24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all
Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of
the wild goats.
24:3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where [was] a
cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men
remained in the sides of the cave.
24:4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of
which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine
enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall
seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of
Saul's robe privily.
24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote
him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
24:6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should
do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch
forth mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of the
LORD.
24:7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and
suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of
the cave, and went on [his] way.
24:8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave,
and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul
looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth,
and bowed himself.
24:9 And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's
words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
24:10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD
had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and
[some] bade [me] kill thee: but [mine eye] spared thee; and I
said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he
[is] the LORD'S anointed.
24:11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy
robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe,
and killed thee not, know thou and see that [there is] neither
evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned
against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
24:12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge
me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness
proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon
thee.
24:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom
dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and
thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine
hand.
24:16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of
speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy
voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
24:17 And he said to David, Thou [art] more righteous than I:
for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee
evil.
24:18 And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt
well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into
thine hand, thou killedst me not.
24:19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well
away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast
done unto me this day.
24:20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be
king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in
thine hand.
24:21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt
not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my
name out of my father's house.
24:22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but
David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
[1 Samuel 25]
25:1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered
together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at
Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of
Paran.
25:2 And [there was] a man in Maon, whose possessions [were]
in Carmel; and the man [was] very great, and he had three
thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his
sheep in Carmel.
25:3 Now the name of the man [was] Nabal; and the name of his
wife Abigail: and [she was] a woman of good understanding, and
of a beautiful countenance: but the man [was] churlish and evil
in his doings; and he [was] of the house of Caleb.
25:4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear
his sheep.
25:5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto
the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet
him in my name:
25:6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth [in
prosperity], Peace [be] both to thee, and peace [be] to thine
house, and peace [be] unto all that thou hast.
25:7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy
shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was
there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in
Carmel.
25:8 Ask thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore
let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a
good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand
unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
25:9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal
according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
25:10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who [is]
David? and who [is] the son of Jesse? there be many servants
now a days that break away every man from his master.
25:11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh
that I have killed for my shearers, and give [it] unto men,
whom I know not whence they [be]?
25:12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again,
and came and told him all those sayings.
25:13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his
sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also
girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four
hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
25:14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife,
saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to
salute our master; and he railed on them.
25:15 But the men [were] very good unto us, and we were not
hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were
conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
25:16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the
while we were with them keeping the sheep.
25:17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for
evil is determined against our master, and against all his
household: for he [is such] a son of Belial, that [a man]
cannot speak to him.
25:18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves,
and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five
measures of parched [corn], and an hundred clusters of raisins,
and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid [them] on asses.
25:19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me;
behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
25:20 And it was [so, as] she rode on the ass, that she came
down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men
came down against her; and she met them.
25:21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that
this [fellow] hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was
missed of all that [pertained] unto him: and he hath requited
me evil for good.
25:22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I
leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light any
that pisseth against the wall.
25:23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off
the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself
to the ground,
25:24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord,
[upon] me [let this] iniquity [be]: and let thine handmaid, I
pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine
handmaid.
25:25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of
Belial, [even] Nabal: for as his name [is], so [is] he; Nabal
[is] his name, and folly [is] with him: but I thine handmaid
saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
25:26 Now therefore, my lord, [as] the LORD liveth, and [as]
thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from
coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging thyself with thine
own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my
lord, be as Nabal.
25:27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought
unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that
follow my lord.
25:28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid:
for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because
my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not
been found in thee [all] thy days.
25:29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy
soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of
life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies,
them shall he sling out, [as out] of the middle of a sling.
25:30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have
done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken
concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over
Israel;
25:31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of
heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless,
or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall
have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
25:32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed [be] the LORD God of
Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
25:33 And blessed [be] thy advice, and blessed [be] thou,
which hast kept me this day from coming to [shed] blood, and
from avenging myself with mine own hand.
25:34 For in very deed, [as] the LORD God of Israel liveth,
which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst
hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto
Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
25:35 So David received of her hand [that] which she had
brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house;
see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy
person.
25:36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast
in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart [was]
merry within him, for he [was] very drunken: wherefore she told
him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
25:37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was
gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that
his heart died within him, and he became [as] a stone.
25:38 And it came to pass about ten days [after], that the
LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
25:39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said,
Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my
reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from
evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon
his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take
her to him to wife.
25:40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to
Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee,
to take thee to him to wife.
25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on [her] face to the
earth, and said, Behold, [let] thine handmaid [be] a servant to
wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
25:42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass,
with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went
after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
25:43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also
both of them his wives.
25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife,
to Phalti the son of Laish, which [was] of Gallim.
[1 Samuel 26]
26:1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth
not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, [which is]
before Jeshimon?
26:2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of
Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to
seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
26:3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which [is]
before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness,
and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul
was come in very deed.
26:5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had
pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner
the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the
trench, and the people pitched round about him.
26:6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite,
and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who
will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I
will go down with thee.
26:7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and,
behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear
stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people
lay round about him.
26:8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine
enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him,
I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I
will not [smite] him the second time.
26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be
guiltless?
26:10 David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD
shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall
descend into battle, and perish.
26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand
against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now
the spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and
let us go.
26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from
Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw [it],
nor knew [it], neither awaked: for they [were] all asleep;
because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on
the top of an hill afar off; a great space [being] between
them:
26:14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of
Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and
said, Who [art] thou [that] criest to the king?
26:15 And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant]
man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast
thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the
people in to destroy the king thy lord.
26:16 This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] the
LORD liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept
your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's
spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.
26:17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, [Is] this thy
voice, my son David? And David said, [It is] my voice, my lord,
O king.
26:18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after
his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine
hand?
26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear
the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up
against me, let him accept an offering: but if [they be] the
children of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they
have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of
the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
26:20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth
before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out
to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the
mountains.
26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David:
for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious
in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and
have erred exceedingly.
26:22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear!
and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his
faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into [my] hand to
day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S
anointed.
26:24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in
mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the
LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
26:25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, my son
David: thou shalt both do great [things], and also shalt still
prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his
place.
[1 Samuel 27]
27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day
by the hand of Saul: [there is] nothing better for me than that
I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and
Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of
Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
27:2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred
men that [were] with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of
Gath.
27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men,
every man with his household, [even] David with his two wives,
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's
wife.
27:4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he
sought no more again for him.
27:5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in
thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the
country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant
dwell in the royal city with thee?
27:6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag
pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
27:7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the
Philistines was a full year and four months.
27:8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the
Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those
[nations were] of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou
goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
27:9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman
alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses,
and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to
Achish.
27:10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day?
And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the
south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the
Kenites.
27:11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring
[tidings] to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying,
So did David, and so [will be] his manner all the while he
dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
27:12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his
people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my
servant for ever.
[1 Samuel 28]
28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines
gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with
Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that
thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
28:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what
thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I
make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
28:3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him,
and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put
away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of
the land.
28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and
came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel
together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was
afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
28:6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered
him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that
hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of
her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman
that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment,
and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman
by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the
familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto
thee.
28:9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what
Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar
spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then
layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
28:10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the
LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this
thing.
28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee?
And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud
voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou
deceived me? for thou [art] Saul.
28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what
sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending
out of the earth.
28:14 And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she
said, An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle.
And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with
[his] face to the ground, and bowed himself.
28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me,
to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for
the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from
me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by
dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make
known unto me what I shall do.
28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me,
seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine
enemy?
28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for
the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it
to thy neighbour, [even] to David:
28:18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor
executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the
LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee
into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow [shalt] thou
and thy sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host
of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and
was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was
no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor
all the night.
28:21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore
troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed
thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have
hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
28:22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the
voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread
before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou
goest on thy way.
28:23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his
servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he
hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat
upon the bed.
28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she
hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded [it], and
did bake unleavened bread thereof:
28:25 And she brought [it] before Saul, and before his
servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away
that night.
[1 Samuel 29]
29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies
to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which [is]
in Jezreel.
29:2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds,
and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the
rereward with Achish.
29:3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What [do]
these Hebrews [here]? And Achish said unto the princes of the
Philistines, [Is] not this David, the servant of Saul the king
of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years,
and I have found no fault in him since he fell [unto me] unto
this day?
29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him;
and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this
fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou
hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle,
lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith
should he reconcile himself unto his master? [should it] not
[be] with the heads of these men?
29:5 [Is] not this David, of whom they sang one to another in
dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten
thousands?
29:6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely,
[as] the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out
and thy coming in with me in the host [is] good in my sight:
for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming
unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
29:7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou
displease not the lords of the Philistines.
29:8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and
what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with
thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies
of my lord the king?
29:9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou
[art] good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the
princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with
us to the battle.
29:10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy
master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be
up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
29:11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the
morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the
Philistines went up to Jezreel.
[1 Samuel 30]
30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to
Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the
south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
30:2 And had taken the women captives, that [were] therein:
they slew not any, either great or small, but carried [them]
away, and went on their way.
30:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, [it
was] burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and
their daughters, were taken captives.
30:4 Then David and the people that [were] with him lifted up
their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
30:5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake
of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved,
every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David
encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
30:7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son,
I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought
thither the ephod to David.
30:8 And David 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].
30:9 So David went, he and the six hundred men that [were]
with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were
left behind stayed.
30:10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two
hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not
go over the brook Besor.
30:11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought
him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made
him drink water;
30:12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two
clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came
again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk [any] water,
three days and three nights.
30:13 And David said unto him, To whom [belongest] thou? and
whence [art] thou? And he said, I [am] a young man of Egypt,
servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three
days ago I fell sick.
30:14 We made an invasion [upon] the south of the
Cherethites, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah,
and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
30:15 And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this
company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt
neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master,
and I will bring thee down to this company.
30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, [they were]
spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and
dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out
of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the
evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them,
save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
30:18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried
away: and David rescued his two wives.
30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small
nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any
[thing] that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, [which]
they drave before those [other] cattle, and said, This [is]
David's spoil.
30:21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so
faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also
to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David,
and to meet the people that [were] with him: and when David
came near to the people, he saluted them.
30:22 Then answered all the wicked men and [men] of Belial,
of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not
with us, we will not give them [ought] of the spoil that we
have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children,
that they may lead [them] away, and depart.
30:23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with
that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and
delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as
his part [is] that goeth down to the battle, so [shall] his
part [be] that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
30:25 And it was [so] from that day forward, that he made it
a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
30:26 And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil
unto the elders of Judah, [even] to his friends, saying, Behold
a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;
30:27 To [them] which [were] in Bethel, and to [them] which
[were] in south Ramoth, and to [them] which [were] in Jattir,
30:28 And to [them] which [were] in Aroer, and to [them]
which [were] in Siphmoth, and to [them] which [were] in
Eshtemoa,
30:29 And to [them] which [were] in Rachal, and to [them]
which [were] in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to [them]
which [were] in the cities of the Kenites,
30:30 And to [them] which [were] in Hormah, and to [them]
which [were] in Chorashan, and to [them] which [were] in
Athach,
30:31 And to [them] which [were] in Hebron, and to all the
places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.
[1 Samuel 31]
31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men
of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain
in mount Gilboa.
31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his
sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and
Melchishua, Saul's sons.
31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers
hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword,
and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come
and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would
not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and
fell upon it.
31:5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he
fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer,
and all his men, that same day together.
31:7 And when the men of Israel that [were] on the other side
of the valley, and [they] that [were] on the other side Jordan,
saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons
were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the
Philistines came and dwelt in them.
31:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines
came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three
sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
31:9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour,
and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to
publish [it in] the house of their idols, and among the people.
31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and
they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that
which the Philistines had done to Saul;
31:12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took
the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of
Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
31:13 And they took their bones, and buried [them] under a
tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.