5 And when the ark of the covenant 19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' of the LORD came into the camp, all If-wife, was with child, near to be deliverrael fhouted with a great shout, fo that the earth rang again.

1. SAMUEL. The Beth-fhemites fmitten. they not let the people go, and they departed?

The Philistines fend back the ark. of the God of Ifrael? and they anfwered, Let the ark of the God of Ifrael be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Ifrael about thither.

9 ¶ And it was fo, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great deftruction and he fmote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their fecret parts.

10 Therefore they fent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pafs, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, faying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Ifrael to us, to flay us and our people.

II So they fent and gathered together all the lords of the Philiftines, and faid, Send away the ark of the God of Ifrael, and let it go again to his own place, that it flay us not, and our people for there was a deadly deftruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

12T And the men that died not were fmitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

CHAP. VI.

I The Philistines counfel how to fend back the ark. 10 They bring it on a new cart to Beth-fhemeh. 19 The people fmitten. AND the ark of the Philiftines

the country of the Philiftines seven months.

2 And the Philiftines called for the priests and the diviners, faying, What fhall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we fhall fend it to his place.

3 And they said, If ye fend away the ark of the God of Ifrael, fend it not empty; but in any wife return him a trefpafs offering: then ye fhall be healed, and it fhall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

4 Then faid they, What shall be the trespass offering which we fhall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philiftines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye fhall give glory unto the God of Ifrael: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off land.

your

6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did

7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them :

8 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trefpafs offering, in a coffer by the fide thereof; and fend it away, that it may go.

9 And fee, if it goeth up by the way of his own coaft to Beth-fhemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we fhall know that it is not his hand that fmote us; it was a chance that happened to us.

10 ¶ And the men did fo; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home :

II And they laid the ark of the LORD Upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

12 And the kine took the ftraight way to the way of Beth-fhemefh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not alide to the right hand' or to the left; and the lords of the Philiftines went after them unto the border of Beth-fhemeth.

13 And they of Beth-fhemefh were

heat harvest in the valley. and they lifted up their eyes, and faw the ark, and rejoiced to fee it. on

14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-fhemite, and stood there, where there was a great ftone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.

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 ftone: and the men of Beth-fhemefh offered burnt offerings and facrificed facrifices the fame day unto the LORD.

16 And when the five lords of the Philiftines had feen it, they returned to Ekron the fame day.

17 And thefe are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trefpass offering unto the LORD; for Afhdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

18. And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philiftines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great flone of Abel, whereon they fet down the ark of the LORD: which one remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Beth-fhemite. 19 ¶ And

Ifrael's repentance.

Chap. vii, viii.

The people defire a king. 19 ¶ And he fmote the men of Beth- unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto fhemesh, because they had looked into the LORD for Ifrael; and the LORD the ark of the LORD, even he fmote heard him.

of the people fifty thoufand and three- 10 And as Samuel was offering up the fcore and ten men: and the people burnt offering, the Philiftines drew near lamented, becaufe the LORD had fmit- to battle against Ifrael: but the LORD ten many of the people with a great flaughter.

20 And the men of Beth-fhemesh faid, Who is able to ftand before this holy LORD God? and to whom fhall he go up from us?

21 And they fent meffengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, faying, The Philiftines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

CHAP. VII.

.3 The Ifraelites, by Samuel's means, folemnly repent at Mixpeh. 9 Samuel praying, the Philiflines are difconfited.

AND the men of Kinjath-jearim came,

and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the houfe of Abinadab in the hill, and fanctified Eleazar his fon to keep the ark of the LORD.

2 And it came to pafs, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the houfe of Ifrael lamented after the LORD.

thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philiftines, and difcomfited them; and they were fmitten before Ifrael.

II And the men of Ifrael went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and fmote them, until they came under Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a ftone, and fet it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

13 So the Philiftines were fubdued, and they came no more into the coaft of Ifrael and the hand of the LORD

was against the Philiftines all the days

of Samuel.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Ifrael were restored to Ifrael, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coafts thereof did Ifrael deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Ifrael and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Ifrael all the days of his life.

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Ifrael in all thofe places.

3¶ And Samuel spake unto all the houfe of Ifrael, faying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the ftrange gods and Afhtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only and 17 And his return was to Ramah; for he will deliver you out of the hand of there was his houfe; and there he judged the Philiftines. Ifrael; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

4 Then the children of Ifrael did put away Baalim and Afhtaroth, and ferved the LORD only.

5 And Samuel faid, Gather all Ifrael to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

CHAP. VIII.

I By the occafion of the ill government of Samuel's fons the Ifraelites afk a king. 10 The manner of a king.

6 And they gathered together to Miz-AND it came to pafs, when Samuel

peh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fafted on that day, and faid there, We have finned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Ifrael in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philiftines heard that the children of Ifrael were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philiftings went up against Ifrael. And when the children of Ifrael heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Ifrael faid to Samuel, Ceafe not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will fave us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9

was old, that he made his fons judges over Ifrael.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah : they were judges in Beer-fheba.

3 And his fons walked not in his ways, but turned afide after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4 Then all the elders of Ifrael gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5 And faid unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy fons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6 But the thing difpleafed Samuel, And Samuel took a fucking lamb, when they said, Give us a king to judge and offered it for a burnt offering wholly us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

A king defcribed by Samuel.

I. SAMUEL.

7 And the LORD faid unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they fay unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8 According to all the works which

they have done fince the day that brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forfaken me, and ferved other gods, fo do they alfo unto thee.

9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet proteft solemnly unto them, and fhew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

TO T And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

II And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your fons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horfemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will fet them to ear his ground, and to reap his harveft, and to make his inftruments of war, and inftruments of his chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his fervants.

rs And he will take the tenth of your feed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his fervants.

Saul feeketh bis father's affes.

CHAP. IX. Saul, defpairing to find his father's affes, 6 by the counfel of his fervant, 11 and direction of young maidens, 15 according to God's revelation, 18 cometh to Samuel. 19 Samuel entertaineth Saul.

NOW there was a man of Benjamin, whofe name was Kifh, the fon of Abiel, the fon of Zeror, the fon of Bechorath, the fon of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

2 And he had a fon, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Ifrael a goodlier person than he: from his fhoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

3 And the affes of Kifh Saul's father were loft. And Kifh faid to Saul his fon, Take now one of the fervants with thee, and arife, go feek the affes.

4 And he paffed through mount Ephraim, and paffed through the land of Shalifha, but they found them not: then they paffed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he paffed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

5 And when they were come to the land of Ziph, Saul faid to his fervant that was with him, Come, and let us return; left my father leave caring for the affes, and take thought for us.

6 And he said unto him, Behold, now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he faith cometh furely to pafs: now let us go thither; peradventure he can fhew us our way that we should go.

7 Then faid Saul to his fervant, But, 16 And he will take your menservants, behold, if we go, what shall we bring and your maidfervants, and your good-the man? for the bread is fpent in our left young men, and your affes, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your theep: and ye fhall be his fervants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye fhall have chofen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

veffels, and there is not a prefent to bring to the man of God: what have we?

8 And the fervant answered Saul again, and faid, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a thekel of filver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

9 (Beforetime in Ifrael, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he fpake, Come, and let us go to the feer: for be that is now called a Prophet was before

19 Nevertheless the people refufed to obey the voice of Samuel; and they faid, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we alfo may be like all the na-time called a Seer.) tions; and that our king mayjudge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

10 Then faid Saul to his fervant, Well faid; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

II And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and faid unto them, Is the feer here?

22 And the LORD faid to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and makethem a king. And Samuel said unto the men 12 And they answered them, and of Ifrael, Go ye every man unto his city. faid, He is; behold, he is before you:

make

Samuel entertaineth Saul, Chap. x. make hafte now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a facrifice of the people to day in the high place:

and anointeth him.

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

13 As foon as ye be come into the city, ye fhall ftraightway find him, before he 26 And they arofe early: and it came go up to the high place to eat: for the to pafs about the spring of the day, that people will not eat until he come, becaufe Samuel called Saul to the top of the he doth blefs the facrifice; and after-house, faying, Up, that I may fend thee wards they eat that be bidden. Now away. And Saul arofe, and they went therefore get you up; for about this time out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. ye fhall find him.

14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out againft them, for to go up to the high place.

27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel faid to Saul, Bid the fervant pafs on before us, (and he paffed on,) but stand thou ftill a while, that I may fhew thee the word of God. СНАР. Х.

1 Samuel anointeth Saul. 2 He confirmeth him by prediction of three figns. 9 Saul's heart is changed, and he prophefieth.

TH

HEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and faid, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, faying, 16 To morrow about this time I will fend thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou fhalt anoint him to be captain over my people Ifrael, that he may fave my people out of the hand of the PhiJiftines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel faw Saul, the 2 T When thou art departed from me LORD faid unto him, Behold the man to day, then thou fhalt find two men by whom I spake to thee of! this same shall | Rachel's fepulchre in the border of Berreign over my people. jamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto 18 ¶ Then Saul drew near to Samuel in thee, The affes which thou wentest to the gate, and faid, Tell me, I pray thee, feek are found: and, lo, thy father hath where the feer's houfe is. let the care of the affes, and forroweth for you, faying, What fhall I do for my fon?

19 And Samuel anfwered Saul, and faid, I am the feer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye fhall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

20 And as for thine affes that were loft three days ago, fet not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the defire of Ifrael? is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

21 And Saul anfwered and faid, Ain not I a Benjamite, of the fmalleft of the tribes of Ifrael? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin ? wherefore then speakeft thou fo to me? 22 And Samuel took Saul and his fervant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them fit in the chiefeft place among them that were bidden, which avere about thirty perfons.

23 And Samuel faid unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I faid unto thee, Sit it by thee.

24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and fet it before Saul. And Samuel faid, Behold that which is left! fet it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee fince I faid, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there fhall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

4 And they will falute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou flalt receive of their hands.

5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it fhall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou fhalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a pfaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they fhall prophefy:

6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou fhalt prophefy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

7 And let it be, when thefe figns are come unto thee, that thou do as occafion ferve thee; for God is with thee.

8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to facrifice facrifices of peace offerings: