1 Samuel 8-15

1599 Geneva Bible

8 1 Samuel maketh his sons Judges over Israel, who follow not his steps. 5 The Israelites ask a King.  11 Samuel declareth in what state they should be under the King. 19 Notwithstanding, they ask one still, and the Lord willeth Samuel to grant unto them.

¹ When Samuel was now become old, he ^[a]made his sons Judges over Israel,

² (And the name of his eldest son was ^[b]Joel, and the name of the second Abijah) even Judges in Beersheba.

³ And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and ^(A)took rewards, and perverted the judgment.

⁴ ¶ Wherefore all the Elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel unto ^[c]Ramah,

⁵ And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: ^(B)make us now a King to judge us like all nations.

⁶ But the thing ^[d]displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a King to judge us: and Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

⁷ And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hear the voice of the people in all that they shall say unto thee: for they have not cast thee away, but they have cast me away, that I should not reign over them.

⁸ As they have ever done since I brought them out of Egypt even unto this day, (and have forsaken me, and served other gods) even so do they unto thee.

⁹ Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit, yet ^[e]testify unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

¹⁰ ¶ So Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked a king of him.

¹¹ And he said, This shall be the ^[f]manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them to his chariots, and to be his horsemen, and some shall run before his chariot.

¹² Also he will make them his captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make instruments of war, and the things that serve for his chariots.

¹³ He will also take your daughters and make them Apothecaries, and Cooks, and Bakers.

¹⁴ And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best Olive trees, and give them to his servants.

¹⁵ And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give it to his ^[g]Eunuchs, and to his servants.

¹⁶ And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and the chief of your young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

¹⁷ He will take the tenth of your sheep, and ye shall be his servants.

¹⁸ And ye shall cry out at that day, because of your king, whom ye have chosen you, and the Lord will not ^[h]hear you at that day.

¹⁹ But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

²⁰ And we also will be like all other nations, and our king shall judge us, and go out before us and fight our battles.

²¹ Therefore when Samuel heard all the words of the people, he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.

²² And the Lord said to Samuel, ^[i]Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go every man unto his city.

9 3 Saul seeking his father’s asses, by the counsel of his servant goeth to Samuel. 9 The Prophets called Seers. 15 The Lord revealeth to Samuel Saul’s coming, commanding him to anoint him king. 22 Samuel bringeth Saul to the feast.

¹ There was now a man of Benjamin, ^[j]mighty in power, named ^(C)Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a man of Benjamin.

² And he had a son called Saul, a ^[k]goodly young man and a fair: so that among the children of Israel there was none goodlier than he: from the shoulders upward, he was higher than any of the people.

³ And the asses of Kish, Saul’s father were lost: therefore Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go and ^[l]seek the asses.

⁴ So he passed through mount Ephraim, and went through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: he went also through the land of Benjamin, but they found them not.

⁵ When they came to the land of ^[m]Zuph, Saul said unto his servant that was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave the care of asses, and take thought for us.

⁶ And he said unto him, Behold now, in this city is a man of God, and he is an honorable man: all that he saith cometh to pass: let us now go thither, if so be that he can show us what way we may go.

⁷ Then said Saul to his servant, Well then, let us go: but what shall we bring unto the man? For the ^[n]bread is spent in our vessels, and there is no present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

⁸ And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have found about me the fourth part of a ^[o]shekel of silver: that will I give the man of God, to tell us our way.

⁹ (Beforetime in Israel when a man went to seek an answer of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the ^[p]Seer: for he that is called now a Prophet, was in the old time called a Seer)

¹⁰ Then said Saul to his servant, Well said, come, let us go: so they went into the city where the man of God was.

¹¹ ¶ And as they were going up the highway to the city, they found maids that came out to draw water, and said unto them, Is there here a Seer?

¹² And they answered them, and said, Yea, lo, he is before you: make haste now, for he came this day to the city: for there is an ^[q]offering of the people this day in the high place.

¹³ When ye shall come into the city, ye shall find him straightway ere he come up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he come, because he will ^[r]bless the sacrifice; and then eat they that be bidden to the feast: now therefore go up, for even now shall ye find him.

¹⁴ Then they went up into the city, and when they were come into the midst of the city, Samuel came out against them, to go up to the high place.

¹⁵ ¶ ^(D)But the Lord had revealed to Samuel ^[s]secretly (a day before Saul came) saying,

¹⁶ Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, him shalt thou anoint to be governor over my people Israel, that he may ^[t]save my people out of the hands of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, and their cry is come unto me.

¹⁷ When Samuel therefore saw Saul, the Lord answered him, See, this is the man whom I spake to thee of, he shall rule my people.

¹⁸ Then went Saul to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the Seer’s house is.

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 today, and tomorrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine ^[u]heart.

²⁰ And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, care not for them: for they are found: and ^[v]on whom is set all the desire of Israel? is it not upon thee, and on all thy father’s house?

²¹ ¶ But Saul answered, and said, Am not I the son of Benjamin of the smallest tribe of Israel? and my family is the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

²² And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the ^[w]chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden: which were about thirty persons.

²³ And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring forth the portion which I gave thee, and whereof I said unto thee, Keep it with thee.

²⁴ And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was ^[x]upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold, that which is left, set it before thee, and eat: for hitherto hath it been kept for thee, saying, Also I ^[y]have called the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

²⁵ And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

²⁶ And when they arose early about the spring of the day, Samuel called Saul to the ^[z]top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out, both he, and Samuel.

²⁷ And when they were come down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant go before us, (and he went) but stand thou still now, that I may show thee ^[aa]the word of God.

10 1 Saul is anointed King by Samuel. 9 God changeth Saul’s heart, and he prophesieth. 17 Samuel assembleth the people, and showeth them their sins. 21 Saul is chosen King by lot. 25 Samuel writeth the King’s office.

¹ Then Samuel took a vial of ^[ab]oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Hath not the Lord anointed thee to be governor over his inheritance?

² When thou shalt depart from me this day, thou shalt find two men by ^(E)Rachel’s sepulcher in the border of Benjamin, even at Zelzah, and they will say unto thee, The ^[ac]asses which thou wentest to seek, are found, and lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

³ Then shalt thou go forth from thence, and shalt come to the ^[ad]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:

⁴ And they will ask thee ^[ae]if all be well, and will give thee the two loaves of bread, which thou shalt receive of their hands.

⁵ After that shalt thou come to the ^[af]hill of God, where is the garrisons of the Philistines: and when thou art come thither to the city, thou shalt meet a company of Prophets coming down from the high place with a vial, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and an harp before them, and they shall prophesy.

⁶ Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

⁷ Therefore when these signs shall come unto thee, do as occasion shall serve: for God is with thee.

⁸ And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal: and I also will come down unto thee to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace. ^(F)Tarry for me seven days, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.

⁹ And when he had turned his ^[ag]back to go from Samuel, God gave him another ^[ah]heart; and all those tokens came to pass that same day.

¹⁰ ¶ And when they came thither to the hill, behold, the company of Prophets met him, and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he ^[ai]prophesied among them.

¹¹ Therefore all the people that knew him before, when they saw that he prophesied among the Prophets, said each to other, What is come unto the son of Kish? ^(G)is Saul also among the Prophets?

¹² And one of the same place answered, and said, But who is their ^[aj]father? Therefore it was a proverb, Is Saul also among the ^[ak]Prophets?

¹³ And when he had made an end of Prophesying, he came to the high place.

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 nowhere, we came to Samuel.

¹⁵ And Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

¹⁶ Then Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found: but concerning the kingdom whereof Samuel spake, told he him not.

¹⁷ ¶ And Samuel ^[al]assembled the people unto the Lord in Mizpah,

¹⁸ And he said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have brought Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hands of all kingdoms that troubled you.

¹⁹ But ye have this day cast away your God, who only delivereth you out of all your adversities and tribulations: and ye said unto him, No, but appoint a king over us. Now therefore stand ye before the Lord according to your tribes, and according to your thousands.

²⁰ And when Samuel had gathered together all the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin was ^[am]taken.

²¹ Afterward he assembled the tribe of Benjamin, according to their families, and the family of Matri was taken. So Saul the son of Kish was taken, and when they sought him, he could not be found.

²² Therefore they asked the Lord again, if that man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath ^[an]hid himself among the stuff.

²³ And they ran, and brought him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders upward.

²⁴ And Samuel said to all the people, See ye not him, whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? and all the people shouted and said, ^[ao]God save the King.

²⁵ Then Samuel told the people ^[ap]the duty 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.

²⁶ Saul also went home to Gibeah, and there followed him a band of men, whose heart God had touched.

²⁷ But the wicked men said, How shall he save us? So they despised him, and brought him no presents: but he ^[aq]held his tongue.

11 1 Nahash the Ammonite warreth against Jabesh Gilead, who asketh help of the Israelites. 6 Saul promiseth help. 11 The Ammonites are slain. 14 The kingdom is renewed.

¹ Then Nahash the Ammonite ^[ar]came up, and besieged Jabesh Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will be thy servants.

² And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your ^[as]right eyes, and bring that shame upon all Israel.

³ To whom the Elders of Jabesh said, Give us seven days respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then if no man deliver us, we will come out to thee.

⁴ ¶ Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told these tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lift up their voices and wept.

⁵ And behold, Saul came following the cattle out of the field, and Saul said, What aileth this people, that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

⁶ Then the Spirit of God ^[at]came upon Saul, when he heard those tidings, and he was exceeding angry,

⁷ And 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 ^[au]Samuel, so shall his oxen be served. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out ^[av]with one consent.

⁸ And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand men, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

⁹ Then ^[aw]they said unto the messengers that came, So say unto the men of Jabesh Gilead, Tomorrow by then the Sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh, which were glad.

¹⁰ Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto ^[ax]you, and ye shall do with us all that pleaseth you.

¹¹ ¶ And when the morrow was come, Saul put the people in three bands, and they came in upon the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and they that remained, were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

¹² Then the people said unto Samuel, ^[ay]Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring those men that we may slay them.

¹³ But Saul said, There shall no man ^[az]die this day: for today the Lord hath saved Israel.

¹⁴ ¶ Then said Samuel unto the people, Come, that we may go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal, and made Saul King there before the Lord in Gilgal: and there they offered ^[ba]peace offerings before the Lord: and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced exceedingly.

12 1 Samuel declaring to the people his integrity, reproveth their ingratitude. 19 God by miracle causeth the people to confess their sin. 20 Samuel exhorteth the people to follow the Lord.

¹ Samuel then said unto all Israel, Behold, I have ^[bb]hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have appointed a King over you.

² Now therefore behold, your King walketh ^[bc]before you, and I am old and gray headed, and behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

³ Behold, here I am: bear record of me before the Lord and before his anointed. ^[bd]Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I done wrong to? or whom have I hurt? or of whose hand have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith, and I will restore it you?

⁴ Then they said, Thou hast done us no wrong, nor hast hurt us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.

⁵ And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his ^[be]Anointed is witness this day, that ye have found nought in mine hands. And they answered, He is witness.

⁶ Then Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that ^[bf]made Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt.

⁷ Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord according to all the ^[bg]righteousness of the Lord, which he showed to you and to your fathers.

^8 (H)After that Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord ^(I)sent Moses and Aaron which brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

^9 (J)And when they forgot the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera ^[bh]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.

¹⁰ And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baal and Ashtoreth. Now therefore deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

¹¹ Therefore the Lord sent Jerubbaal ^[bi]and Bedan and ^(K)Jephthah, and ^(L)Samuel, and delivered you out of the hands of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

¹² Notwithstanding when you saw, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, ^[bj]No, but a king shall reign over us: when yet the Lord your God was your King.

¹³ Now therefore behold the King whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired: lo therefore, the Lord hath set a King over you.

¹⁴ If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and hear his voice, and not disobey the word of the Lord, both ye, and the king that reigneth over you, shall ^[bk]follow the Lord your God.

¹⁵ But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but disobey the Lord’s mouth, then shall the hand of the Lord be upon you, and on your ^[bl]fathers.

¹⁶ Now also stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes.

¹⁷ Is it not now wheat harvest? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain, that ye may perceive and see, how that your wickedness is ^[bm]great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord in asking you a king.

¹⁸ Then Samuel called unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain the same day: and all the people feared the Lord and Samuel exceedingly.

¹⁹ And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have sinned in asking us a King, beside ^[bn]all our other sins.

²⁰ ¶ And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not, (ye have indeed done all this wickedness, ^[bo]yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart,

²¹ Neither turn ye back: for that should be after vain things which cannot profit you, nor deliver you, for they are but vanity.)

²² For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great Name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you ^[bp]his people.

²³ Moreover God forbid, that I should sin against the Lord, and cease praying for you, but I will show you the good and right way.

²⁴ Therefore fear you the Lord, and serve him in the truth with all your ^[bq]hearts, and consider how great things he hath done for you.

²⁵ But if ye do wickedly, ye shall perish, both ye and your King.

13 3 The Philistines are smitten of Saul and Jonathan. 13 Saul being disobedient to God’s commandment, is showed of Samuel that he shall not reign. 19 The great slavery, wherein the Philistines kept the Israelites.

¹ Saul now had been King ^[br]one year, and he reigned ^[bs]two years over Israel.

² Then Saul chose him three thousand of Israel: and 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 one to his tent.

³ And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Phi-listines, that was in the ^[bt]hill: and it came to the Phi-listines’ ears: and Saul blew the ^[bu]trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Hear, O ye Hebrews.

⁴ And all Israel heard say, Saul hath destroyed a garrison of the Philistines: wherefore Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines: and the people gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.

⁵ ¶ The Philistines also gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen: for the people was like the sand which is by the seaside in multitude, and came up, and pitched in Michmash Eastward from ^[bv]Beth Aven.

⁶ And when the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were in distress) the people hid themselves in caves, and in holds, and in rocks, and in towers, and in pits.

⁷ And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan unto the land of ^[bw]Gad and Gilead: and Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people for fear followed him.

⁸ And he tarried seven days, according unto the time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal, therefore the people were ^[bx]scattered from him.

⁹ And Saul said, Bring a burnt offering to me and peace offerings: and he offered a burnt offering.

¹⁰ And as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came: and Saul went forth to meet him, to ^[by]salute him.

¹¹ And Samuel said, What hast thou done? Then Saul said, Because I saw that the people was ^[bz]scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together to 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 was bold therefore and offered a burnt offering.

¹³ And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy ^[ca]God, which he commanded thee: for the Lord had now stablished thy kingdom upon Israel forever.

¹⁴ But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a ^[cb]man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be governor over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord had commanded thee.

¹⁵ ¶ And Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal in ^[cc]Gibeah of Benjamin: and Saul numbered the people that were found with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ And Saul and Jonathan his son, and the people that were found with them, had their abiding in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines pitched in Michmash.

¹⁷ And there came out of the host of the Philistines ^[cd]three bands to destroy, one band turned unto the way of Ophrah unto the land of Shual,

¹⁸ And another band turned toward the way to Beth Horon, and the ^[ce]third band turned toward the way of the coast that looketh toward the valley of Zeboim, toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ Then there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.

²⁰ Wherefore, all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, his mattock, and his axe, and his weeding hook.

²¹ Yet they had a file for the shares, and for the mattocks, and for the pick forks, and for the axes, and for to sharpen the goads.

²² So when the day of battle was come, there was neither ^[cf]sword nor spear found in the hands of any of the people that were with Saul and with Jonathan: but only with Saul and Jonathan his son was there found.

²³ And the garrison of the Philistines came out to the passage of Michmash.

14 14 Jonathan and his armor bearer put the Philistines to flight. 24 Saul bindeth the people by an oath, not to eat till evening. 32 The people eat with the blood. 38 Saul would put Jonathan to death. 45 The people deliver him.

¹ Then on a day Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, ^[cg]Come and let us go over toward the Philistines garrison, that is yonder on the other side, but he told not his father.

² And Saul tarried in the border of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree, which was in Migron, and the people that were with him, were about six hundred men.

³ And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, ^(M)Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, was the Lord’s Priest in Shiloh, and wore an Ephod: and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

⁴ ¶ Now in the way whereby Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines garrison, there was a ^[ch]sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: the name of the one was called Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

⁵ The one rock stretched from the North toward Michmash, and the other was from the South toward Gibeah.

⁶ And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these ^[ci]uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work with us: for it is ^[cj]not hard to the Lord ^(N)to save with many, or with few.

⁷ And he that bare his armor, said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: go where it pleaseth thee: behold, ^[ck]I am with thee as thine heart desireth.

⁸ Then said Jonathan, Behold, we go over unto those men, and will show ourselves unto them.

^9 [cl]If they say on this wise to us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place, and not go up to them.

¹⁰ But if they say, Come up unto us, then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

¹¹ So they both showed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, See, the Hebrews come out of the ^[cm]holes wherein they had hid themselves.

¹² And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, Come up to us: for we will show you a thing. Then Jonathan said unto his armor bearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

¹³ So Jonathan went up upon ^[cn]his hands and upon his feet, and his armor bearer after him: and some fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer slew others after him.

¹⁴ So the ^[co]first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, as it were within half an acre of land which two oxen plow.

¹⁵ And there was a fear in the host, and in the field, and among all the people: the garrison also, and they that went out to spoil, were afraid themselves: and the earth ^[cp]trembled: for it was stricken with fear by God.

¹⁶ ¶ Then the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin saw: and behold, the multitude was discomfited, and smitten as they went.

¹⁷ Therefore said Saul unto the people that were with him, Search now, and see, who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.

¹⁸ And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the Ark of God (for the Ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel)

¹⁹ ¶ And while Saul talked unto the Priest, the noise that was in the host of the Philistines, spread farther abroad, and increased: therefore Saul said unto the Priest, ^[cq]Withdraw thine hand.

²⁰ And Saul was assembled with all the people that were with him, and they came to the battle: and behold, ^(O)every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

²¹ Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines beforetime, and were come with them into all parts of the host, even they also turned to be with the ^[cr]Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

²² Also all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines were fled, they followed after them in the battle.

²³ And so the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle continued unto Beth Aven.

²⁴ And at that time the men of Israel were pressed with hunger: for Saul charged the people with an oath, saying, ^[cs]Cursed be the man that eateth ^[ct]food till night, that I may be avenged of mine enemies: so none of the people tasted any sustenance.

²⁵ And all they of the land came to a wood, where honey lay upon the ground.

²⁶ And the people came into the wood, and behold, the honey dropped, and no man moved his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the ^[cu]oath.

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 honey comb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his ^[cv]eyes received sight.

²⁸ Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father made the people to swear, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth sustenance this day: and the people were ^[cw]faint.

²⁹ Then said Jonathan, My father hath ^[cx]troubled the land: see now how mine eyes are made clear, because I have tasted a little of this honey:

³⁰ How much more, if the people had eaten today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a greater slaughter among the Philistines?

³¹ ¶ And they smote the Philistines that day, from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were exceeding faint.

³² So the people turned to the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves and slew them on the ground, and the people did eat them ^(P)with the blood.

³³ Then men told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have trespassed: ^[cy]roll a great stone unto me this day.

³⁴ Again Saul said, Go abroad among the people, and bid them bring me 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 the people brought every man his ox in his hand that night, and slew them there.

³⁵ Then Saul made an altar unto the Lord, and that ^[cz]was the first altar that he made unto the Lord.

³⁶ ¶ And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning shine, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever thou thinkest best. Then said the Priest, Let us ^[da]draw near hither unto God.

³⁷ So Saul asked of God, saying, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? But he answered him not at that time.

³⁸ ¶ And Saul said, ^(Q)All ^[db]ye chief of the people, come ye hither, and know, and see by whom this sin is done this day.

³⁹ For as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be done by Jonathan my son, he shall die the death. But none of all the people answered him.

⁴⁰ Then he said 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 thou thinkest best.

⁴¹ Then Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give ^[dc]a perfect lot. And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

⁴² And Saul said, Cast lot 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 tasted a little honey with the end of the rod, that was in mine hand, and lo, I must die.

⁴⁴ Again Saul answered, God do so and more also, unless thou die the death, Jonathan.

⁴⁵ And the people said unto Saul, ^[dd]Shall Jonathan die, who hath so mightily delivered 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 delivered Jonathan that he died not.

⁴⁶ Then Saul came up from the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

⁴⁷ ¶ So Saul held 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 went, he ^[de]handled them as wicked men.

⁴⁸ He gathered also an host and smote ^[df]Amalek, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

⁴⁹ Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, ^[dg]and Jishui, and Malchishua: and the names of his two daughters, the elder was called Merab, and the younger was named ^[dh]Michal.

⁵⁰ And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of his chief captain was ^[di]Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

⁵¹ And Kish was Saul’s father: and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

⁵² And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and ^[dj]whomsoever Saul saw to be a strong man, and meet for the war, he took him unto him.

15 3 Saul is commanded to slay Amalek. 9 He spareth Agag, and the best things. 19 Samuel reproveth him. 28 Saul is rejected of the Lord, and his Kingdom given to another. 33 Samuel heweth Agag in pieces.

¹ Afterward Samuel said unto Saul, ^(R)The Lord sent me to anoint thee King over his people, over Israel: now therefore ^[dk]obey the voice of the words of the Lord.

² Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember what Amalek did to Israel, ^(S)how they laid wait for them in the way, as they came up from Egypt.

³ Now therefore go, and smite Amalek, and destroy ye all that pertaineth unto them, and have no compassion on them, but ^[dl]slay both man and woman, both infant and suckling, both ox, and sheep, both camel, and ass.

⁴ ¶ And Saul assembled the people, and ^[dm]numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

⁵ And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and ^[dn]set watch at the river.

⁶ And Saul said unto the ^[do]Kenites, Go, depart, and get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye showed ^[dp]mercy to all the children of Israel, when they came up from Egypt: and the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

⁷ So Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah, as thou comest to Shur, that is before Egypt,

⁸ And took Agag the King of the Amalekites alive, and destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the better sheep, and the oxen, and the fat beasts, and the lambs, and all that was good, and they would not destroy them; but everything that was vile and nought worth, that they destroyed.

¹⁰ ¶ Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

¹¹ It ^[dq]repenteth me that I have made Saul King; for he is turned from me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was moved, and cried unto the Lord all night.

¹² And when Samuel arose early to meet Saul in the morning, one told Samuel, saying, Saul is gone to Carmel; and behold, he hath made him there a place, from whence he returned, and departed, and is gone down to Gilgal.

¹³ ¶ Then Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him. Blessed be thou of the Lord, I have fulfilled the ^[dr]commandment of the Lord.

¹⁴ But Samuel said, What meaneth then the bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

¹⁵ And Saul answered, They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, to sacrifice them unto the Lord thy God, and the remnant have we destroyed.

¹⁶ Again Samuel said to Saul, Let me tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

¹⁷ Then Samuel said, When thou wast ^[ds]little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? for the Lord anointed thee King over Israel.

¹⁸ And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and destroy those sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them, until thou destroy them.

¹⁹ Now wherefore hast thou not obeyed the voice of the Lord, but hast turned to the prey, and hast done wickedly in the sight of the Lord?

²⁰ And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, ^[dt]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 destroyed the Amalekites.

²¹ But the people took of the spoil, sheep, and oxen, and the chiefest of the things which should have been destroyed, to offer unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

²² And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when the voice of the Lord is obeyed? behold, ^(T)to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken is better than the fat of rams.

²³ For ^[du]rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and transgression is wickedness and idolatry. Because thou hast cast away the word of the Lord, therefore he hath cast away thee from being king.

²⁴ Then 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, take away my ^[dv]sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

²⁶ But Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast cast away the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath cast away thee, that thou shalt not be King over Israel.

²⁷ And as Samuel turned himself to go away, he caught the lap of his coat, and it rent.

²⁸ Then Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to thy ^[dw]neighbor, that is better than thou.

²⁹ For indeed the ^[dx]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: but honor me, 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, and followed 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 ^[dy]pleasantly, and Agag said, Truly the ^[dz]bitterness of death is passed.

³³ And Samuel said, ^(U)As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among other women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

³⁴ ¶ So Samuel departed to ^[ea]Ramah, and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

³⁵ And Samuel came no more to ^[eb]see Saul until the day of his death: but Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord ^[ec]repented that he made Saul King over Israel.