Saul's selected band. 1 SAMUEL.-CHAP. XIII. Samuel reproves Saul the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ash-throughout all the land, saying, Let the He taroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. r Ju. 213. a Ju. 6.14, 32. 11 And the LORD Sept Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and " Samuel, and delivered Ju.11.1, you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe. 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. x &c. u c.7.13. v c.11.2. w Ho.13.11. Jo 24.14, P81.12. 20. 15. y mouth. & be after. a Le. 26.14, &c. c Ja. 5.16.. 18. d Ex 14.31. Ezr. 10.9. 13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, |b ver.9. and obey his voice, and not rebel against the y commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD bef De 11.16. against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your h Hab. 2. 18. eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest to-day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 ¶ So Samuel called unto the LORD; and or, that the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and d all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. De.23.36. 4. M. 2911. B. C. 1093. the son of one year in his reigning. 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. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet or, the hill. f turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; b c.10.26. c c.10.5 Ge.34 30. Ex. 5.21. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves hin caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 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 i followed him trembling. 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. 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt-offering to me, and peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 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; 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 burntoffering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, m Thou hast 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should yee did stink. done foolishly: thou hast not kept the comgo after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. mandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. 15 And 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. 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. 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: 18 And another company turned the way to Beth-horon: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or 22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found on stand in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and I. 10.29. with Jonathan his son was there found. A. M. 2917. Saul's unadvised adjuration 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were a half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plough. r 15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went B.C. 107 melted away, and they went on beating down out to the passage of Michmash. one another. 2 a CHAPTER XIV. a or, there was a day. 1 Jonathan, unwitting to his father, the priest, or the people, goeth and miraculously mit th the Pulistmes' garrison. 15 A divine terror maketh them beat themselves. 17 Saul, not staying the priest's answer, setteth on them. 21 The captivated He-b c. 13.15. arews, and the hillen Israelites, join against them. 24 Saul's unadvised adjuration nireth the victory. 32 He restraineth the people from eating blood. 35 He wuilleth an altar. 38 Jonathan, taken by lot, is saved by the people. 47 Saul's strength and family. NOW it came to pass upon a day, that c called lech. 20. e c.2.23. Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and dc.4.21. let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. 2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is tooth. in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men; 3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod's a 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. 21 Moreover the Hebrews that were with the 4 And between the passages, by which JónaPhilistines before that time, which went up than sought to go over unto the Philistines' with them into the camp from the country garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one m2 Ki.14.8. round about, even they also turned to be with side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. 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 a there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. 7 And his armour-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; he put forth the end of the rod that was in his then we will go up for the LORD hath deliver-x were cried hand, and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put ed them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straightly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint. 29 Then said 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. 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? 31 ¶ And they smote the Philistines that day h B. C. Saul smites the Amalekites. 2017 and Ishui, and Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: g Le 3.17. 24. Eze. 33.25. h or, dealt ously. hand. J Ho.8.14. k that altar 1 c.28.6. m Joa. 7.14, 33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the in his people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed roll a great stone unto me this day. 34 And 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 i with him that night, and slew them there. 35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. 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. 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. &c. c. 10. 19. n corners. Ju. 20.2. o 2 Sa. 12.5. q Pr. 16.33. r went Jo.1.7..10. u Ru. 1.17. w 2 Sa. 14. 1 Ki. 1.52. Lu. 21.18. 11. Is 13.3. 13. 21. 38 And Saul said, Draw mye near hither, y 1.29.20, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. z c.11.11. a 2 Sa. 10.6. wrought 39 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth bor, Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man co. 15.3,7. among all the people that answered him. 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. 41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God Israel, 3 Give a perfect lot. And Saul of and Jonathan were taken: but the people ' escaped. г d c.31.2. e Abiner. c.8.11. B. C. 1079. b Ex.17.8.. De. 25.17.. c Le. 27.28. 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. e 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. 7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 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 a No.24.20. that was good, and would not utterly destroy the end of the rod that was in my hand, and, lo, I must die. 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. 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 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. XX Samuel kills Agag. B. 1079. v c.9.21. Samuel anoints David. CHAPTER XVI. 1 Samuel sent by God, under pretence of a sacrifice, cometh to Beth-lehem. 6 Hir human judgment is reproved. 13 Ile anointeth David. 15 Saul sendeth for David to quiet his evil spirit. 1 SAMUEL.-CHAP. XVI. 16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I AM 25 will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 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.1617 anointed thee king over Israel? 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. 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? w consume. Pr. 21.3. 10. z Ec.5.1. a b AND the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. с 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Ma. 1233 Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. a diving- De. 18.10. g 1 Ki. 11. eterni ty, or, vic- 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacri-hor, fices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Nu.23.19 Eze 24.14. Tit. 1.2. j Jn.5.44. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of a witchcraft, b and stubbornness is us iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of k Ja.1.7. the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 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. 25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 1 ver. 11. Ps. 119. Je. 13. 17. 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. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? h 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. k 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. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not 1 on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: form the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the P heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Nei B. C. 1063. ther hath the LORD chosen this. 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, f 9.12 he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 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. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour j 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. 31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. 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. 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. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 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. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed w from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16 Let our Lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a 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. 19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 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. a c. 17.32.. 36. b 2 Sa. 17.8, 10. c 2 Sa. 14. 20. 14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning or,speech and evening, .nd presented himself forty days. e ver. 12. 14. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood be-f .18.12. fore him and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer. g Pr.22.29. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were ga-h c.8.17. thered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. d i ver.26. 2 Sa. 21. 21. Ru.4.22. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a moun-k c.16.10, tain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. 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. 5 And he had a 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. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. 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. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I i defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, 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 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; 18 And carry these ten m cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 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 P trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. r 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. 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. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled "from him, and were sore afraid. 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. 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 thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward an other, and spake after the same manner and the people answered him again after the former manner. 31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him. |