The Israelites ask a king.

BEFORE CHRIST

cir. 1095.

thered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy fver. 19, 20. ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Deut.17.14. Hos. 13. 10. Acts 13. 21.

2 Heb. was evil in the eyes of Samuel.

6 ¶ But the thing 2 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, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but h ch. 10. 19. they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8 See Ex. 16. 8.

& 12. 17, 19. Hos. 13. 10,

11.

3 Or, obey.

4 Or, not-
withstand-
ing when
thou hast
solemnly
protested
against
them, then
thou shalt
shew, &c.
i ver. 11.

k See Deut.

17. 16, &c.

ch. 10. 25.

1 ch. 14. 52.

m 1 Kings 21.7. See Ezek. 46. 18.

6 Heb. eunuchs. Gen. 37. 36.

n Prov. 1.25,

26, 27, 28.

Is. 1. 15.

Mic. 3. 4. o Jer. 44. 16.

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.

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

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

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

12 And he will appoint him сарtains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

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

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

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

5

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

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which shall have chosen you; and the LORD "will not hear you in that day. 19 ¶ Nevertheless the people re

ye

1 Saul despairing to find his father's asses, 6 by the counsel of his servant, 11 and direction of young maidens, 15 according to God's revelation, 18 cometh to Samuel. 19 Samuel entertaineth Saul at the feast. 25 Samuel, after secret communication, bringeth Saul on his way.

OW there was a man of Ben

NOW jamin, whose name was a Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

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 bch. 10. 23. upward he was higher than any of the people.

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.

с

42.

4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found 2 Kings 4. 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.

|
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.

6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of Deut. 33.1. God, and he is an honourable man;

cometh to Samuel.

BEFORE CHRIST cir. 1095.

2 Heb. is with us.

spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what 2 have we?

8 And the servant answered Saul Heb. there 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.

is found in my hand.

8 Gen.25.22.

9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Proh2 Sam. 24. phet was beforetime called ha Seer.) 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.

11.

2 Kings 17. 13.

1 Chr. 26. 28. & 29. 29.

2 Chr. 16. 7, 10.

Is. 30. 10. Amos 7. 12.

11 T And as they went up the 4 Heb. Thy hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

word is good.

6 Heb. in the ascent of the city. 1 Gen. 24. 11.

Gen. 31.54.

ch. 16. 2.
6 Or, feast.

11 Kings3.2.

7 Heb. to day.

m ch. 15. 1. Acts 13. 21. 8 Heb. revealed the ear of Samuel. ch. 20. 2.

n ch. 10. 1.

• Ex. 2. 25. & 3. 7, 9.

p ch. 16.12. Hos. 13. 11.

9 Heb. restrain in.

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:

6

13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. 15 ¶ Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

8

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,

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.

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in 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 to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that

is in thine heart.

Samuel anointeth Saul.

20 And as for a 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?

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?

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.

26 And they arose early: and it Sam. 11. 2. 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 And Saul arose, away. and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

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 shew & Heb. to thee the word of God.

Saul's heart is changed.

BEFORE CHRIST

1095.

2 Heb. the business.

8 Gen. 28.22. & 35. 1, 3, 7.

8 Heb. ask thee of peace: as Judg. 18.15.

b ver. 10.

1 ch. 13. 3.

* ch. 9. 12.

Ex. 15. 20, 2Kings3.15.

21.

1 Cor. 14. 1. m Num. 11. 25.

say

they will
unto thee, The asses
which thou wentest to seek are found:
and, lo, thy father hath left the care
of the asses, and sorroweth for you,
saying, What shall I do for my son?
3 Then shalt thou go on forward
from thence, and thou shalt come to
the plain of Tabor, and there shall
meet thee three men going up to
God to Beth-el, one carrying three
kids, and another carrying three
loaves of bread, and another carry-
ing a bottle of wine:

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

5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the 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 :

6 And m the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and "thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned ch. 19.23,24. into another man.

ch. 16. 13. n ver. 10.

6 Heb. shoulder. 7 Heb. turned.

⚫ ver. 5.

t ch. 19. 20.

a ver. 6.

8 Heb. a man to his neighbour.

ch. 19. 24. Matt. 13. 54, 55.

John 7. 15.
Acts 4. 13.

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 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and "the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

12 And one of the same place anHeb. from swered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

Saul is chosen king.

14 T 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.

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

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.

19 And ye have this day rejected ch.8.7,19. your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

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.

22 Therefore they enquired of the ch. 23. 2,4, LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any off ch. 9. 2 the people from his shoulders and upward.

6.

24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD & 2 8am. 21. hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, 2 God save the king.

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.

1 Kings 1. 25, 89. 2 Kings 11.

12.

live.

Heb. Let the king See Deut. 11, c.

ch. 8.

26 T And Saul also went home to Judg. 20. 14. ch. 11. 4. Gibeah; and there went with him a

n2Sam.8.2. 1Kings 4.21. & 10. 25. 2 Chr. 17.5. Ps. 72. 10. Matt. 2. 11. 2 Or, he was as though he had been deaf.

■ ch. 12. 12.

Judg.21.8.

band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, "and brought him no presents. But 2 he held his peace.

CHAPTER XI.

1 Nahash offereth them of Jabesh-gilead a reproachful condition. 4 They send messengers, and are delivered by Saul. 12 Saul thereby is confirmed, and his kingdom renewed.

HENNahash 'the Ammonite

of Jabesh-gilead.

11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three See ch. 31. 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.

And the people unto

Ex. 23. 32. 1 Kings 20.

34.

Job 41. 4. Ezek.17.13.

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, Gen.34.14. and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

ch. 17.26.

bear us.

3 And the elders of Jabesh said un3 Heb. For- to 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.

⚫ ch. 10. 26. & 15. 34.

2 Sam. 21.6. Judg. 2.4.

& 21.2.

4 T 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.

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.

6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and bhewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Judg. 21.5, 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.

3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have Iver. 5. taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, 'that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. 6 ¶ And Samuel said unto the people It is the LORD that

13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom Hos. 13.11. ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

i Josh. 24. 14.

Pa. 81.13,14. 4 Heb. mouth.

6 Heb. be after.

k Lev. 26.14, 15, &c.

Deut. 28. 15, &c. Josh. 24.20.

1 ver. 9.

m Ex. 14. 13, 31.

■ Prov. 26.1. • Josh. 10.

12.

Jam. 5. 16, 17, 18.

14 If ye will fear the Lonn, and

serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, 'as it was against your fathers.

16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

17 Is it not "wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he ch. 7. 9, 10. shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that P your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

p ch. 8. 7.

He comforteth them.

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.

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 turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

22 For "the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD 22 in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

b

BEFORE CHRIST 1095.

q Ex.14. 31. See

Ezra 10. 9. Ex. 9. 28. Jam. 5. 15. 1John 5.16.

& 10. 17.

• Deut. 11. 16.

Jer. 16. 19. Hab. 2. 18. 1 Cor. 8. 4. 1 Kings 6. Ps. 94. 14.

13.

x Josh. 7.9. Ps. 106. 8.

Jer. 14, 21. 14.

Ezek. 20.9,

Deut. 7.7,

8. & 14. 2. Mal. 1. 2.

2 Heb. from ceasing. Rom. 1.9.

■ Acts 12. 5.

Col. 1. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 3.

Ps. 34. 11. Prov. 4. 11. 36.

b1 Kings 8.

Chr. 6.27.

Jer. 6. 16. c Eccles. 12. 13.

d Is. 5. 12.

2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah ch. 10. 26. of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in 'Geba, and the Philistines heard of 50r, the it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

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.

b ch. 10. 5.

hill.

Heb. did Gen. 34. 30.

stink.

Ex. 5. 21.