I. Samtiel.

Ifrael overcome by the Philistines. Now Samuel did not yet know the 3 And when the people were come LORD, neither was the word of the LORD into the camp, the elders of Ifrael faid, yet revealed unto him. Wherefore hath the LORD finitten us to day before the Philiftines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that when it cometh among us, it may, fave us out of the hand of our enemies.

13 And when he came, lo, Eli fate upon feat by the way-fide, watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out.

14 And when Eli heard the noife of the crying, he faid, What meaneth the noife of this tumult. And the man came in haftily, and told Eli.

15 Now Eli mas ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim, that he could not fee.

16 And the man faid unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and 1 fled to

And the word of Samuel came to all day out of the army. And he faid, What

is there done, my fon?

17 And the meffenger anfwered and faid, Ifrael is fled before the Philiftines, and there hath been alfo a great flaughter among the people, and thy two fons allo, Hophni and Phinehas are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

18 And it came to pass when he made

The ark taken. Chap.iv. vi. Dagon falleth. mention of the ark of God, that he fell God to Ekron; and it came to pafs as the from off the feat backward by the fide of ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekrothe gate, and his neck brake, and he died: nites cried out, faying, They brought for he was an old man, and heavy. And about the ark of God of Ifraefto us, to he had judged Ifrael forty years. flay us and our people.

19 And his daughter in law Phinehas wife was with childe near to be delivered: and when the heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law, and her husband were dead, the bowed her felf and travelled; for her pains a came upon her.

So they fent and gathered together all the Tords of the Philiftines, and laid, Send away the ark of the God of Ifrael, and let it go again to his own place, that it lay us not, and our people: for there was deadly deftruction throughout all the city; hand of God was very heavy there. 20 Andabout the time ofher death the 12 And the men that died not, were women that food by her, faid unto her, fmitten with the emerods: and the cry of for thou haft born a fon. But the t he city went up to heaven. anwered not, neither did the rezard it.

21 And the named the childe I-chabod, faying, The glory is departed from Ifrael: (because the ark of God was taken, and

because of her father in law and her husband)

22 And the faid, The glory is departed from Ifrael: for the ark of God is taken, CHAP. V.

■ The ark brought into the house of Dagon. 3 Dagonfalleth down.

Nd the Philiftines took the ark ofGod,

A and brought it from Eben-ezer unto

Afhdod.

CHAP. VI.

The Philistines confult to send back the ark. 19 The people arefmitten for looking into it.

ANd the ark of the LORD was in the

countrey of the Philiftines feven moneths

And the Philistines called for the Priefts 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 faid, If ye fend away the ark

of the God of Ifrael, fend it not empty; but in any wife return him a trefpafs ufWhen the Philiftines took the ark of fering: then ye shall be healed, and it fhallGod, they brought it into the house of be known to you, why his hand is not reDagon, and fet it by Dagon. moved from you.

31 And when they of Afhdod arofe 4 Then faid they, What shall be the trefearly on themorrow, behold, Dagon was pals-offering which we fhal return to him? fallen upon his face to the earth, before They anfwered, Five golden emerods, and the ark of the LORD: and they took Da- five golden mice, according to the number gon, and fet him in his place again. of the lords of the Phililtines: for one

4 And when they arofe early on the plague was on you all, and on your lords. morrow morning, behold, Dagon was 5 Wherefore ye fhall make images of fallen upon his face to the ground, before your emerods, and images of your mice the ark of the LORD, and the head of Da- that mar the land, and yefhall give glory gon, and both the palms of his hands were unto the God of Ifrael: peradventure he cut off upon the chrefhold,onely the flump will lighten his hand from off you, and of Dagon was left to him. from off your gods,and from off your land

5 Therefore neither the Priests of Dagon,nor any that come intoDagons houfe, tread on the threshold ofDagon in Afhdod, unto this day.

6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let 6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy the people go, and they departed? upon them of Afhdod, and he deftroyed 7 Now therefore make a new cart, and them, and fmote them with emerods, even take two milch-kine on which there hath Afhdod and the coafts thereof. come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them.

7 And when the men of Afhdod faw that it was fo, they faid, The ark of the God of Ifrael fhall not abide with us: for his hand is fore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

8 They fent therefore, and gathered all the lords of the Philiftines unto them, and faid, What fhall we do with the ark of the God of Ifrael? and they answered, 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 fmall and great, and they had emeGods in their fecrets parts.

10. Therefore they fent the ark of

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

The ark fent back.

I. Samuel. The Philifines fubdued, to the way of Beth-fhemesh, and went a- mong you, and prepare your hearts unto nto y long the high way, lowing as they went, LORD,& ferve him onely, and he will deli and turned not afide to the right hand or ver you out of the hand of the Philistines. to the left; and the lords of the Philistines 4 Then the children of Ifrael did put went after them unto the border of Beth- away Baalim, and Afhtaroth, and ferved themesh, the LORD onely.

13 And they of Beth-fhemesh were rear 5 And Srmuel faid, Gatherall Ifrael to Ding their wheat-harveft in the valley: and Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the they lifted up their eyes, and faw the ark, LORD. and rejoyced to fee it.

6 And they gathered together to Miz14 And the cart came into the field of peh, and drew water, and poured it out Joshua a Beth-fhemite, and ftood there, before the LORD, and fafted on that day, where there was a great ftone: and they and faid these, We have finned against the clave the wood of the cart, and offered the LORD. And Samuel judged the children kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. of Ifrael in Mizpeh. 15 And the Levites took down the ark 7 And when the Philistines heard that of the LORD, and the coffer that was with the children of Ifrael were gathered togeit, wherein the jewels of gold were, and ther to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philiftines put them on the great ftone: and the men went up againft Ifraei: and when the chil of Beth-fhemefh offered burnt-offerings, dren of Ifrael heard it, they were afraid of and facrificed facrifices the fame day unto the Philiftines. the LORD.

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

17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philiftines returned for a trefpaffe-offering unto the LORD; for Afhdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gathone, for Ekron one,

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.

91 And Samuel took a fucking lamb,and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Ifracl, and the LORD heard him.

To Andas Samuel was offering up the 18 And the golden mice, according to burnt offering, the Philiftines drew near to the number of all the cities of the Phili- battell aginft Ifrael: but the LORD thun fines, belonging to the five lords, both of dred with a great thunder on that day upon fenced cities, and of countrey villages, the Philiftines, and difcomfited them, and even unto the great ftone of Abel, whereon they were fmitten before Ifrael. they fet down the ark of the LORD: which ftone remaineth unto this day, in the field of lofhua the Beth fhemite.

19 And he finote the men of Bethfhemeth, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he fmore of the people fifty thousand and threefcore and ten men: and the people lamented, becaufe the LORD had finitten many of the people with a great laughter.

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

21 And they feat 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. VIL The Ifraelites by Samuels means folemnly refent at Mixfeb. 6 Samuel praying, the Philiftines are discomfited.

Nd the men of Kirjath-jearim came, A and fetch up the ark of the LORD,

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

It And the men of Ifrael went out of Mizpeh, and purfued the Philiftines, and fmote them until they came underBeth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a ftone, and fet it between M zpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, faying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

13 So the Philiftines were fubdued, and they came no more into the coaft of Ifrael:and hand of the LORD was against the Philistines, all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities which the Philiftines had taken from Ifrael, were reftored to If rael, from Ekron even unto Gath, and the coats thereof did Ifrael deliver out of the hands of the Philiftines: 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,andMizpeh, and judged Ifrael in all thofe places.

17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his houfe: and there he judged Ifrael, and there he built an altar unto the

LORD.

CHAP. VIII
1. The Ifraelites ask a king, 6 Samuel pray
ing, is comforted. 16 The manners of
king.

Auld, that he made his fons judges over
Ndit came to pafs when Samuel was

2 And it came to pafs while the ark abude in Kir-jath-jearim, that the time was long: for it was twenty years, and all the houfe of Ifrael lamented after the LORD, 3.And Samuel fpake unto all the houfe Ifrael. of lfrael, faying, itye do return unto the 2 Now the name of his first-born was LORD with all your hearts, then put away Joel, and the name of his fecond Abiah: the frange gods, and Afhtaroth from a-they were julges in Beer-fhcha.

3 And his fons walked not in his ways,

Samuel faßeth. CHAP. IX.

but turned afide after lucre, and took 3 Saul despairing to finde bis fathers affes, bribes, and perverted judgement.

4 And all the elders of Ifrael gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel

unto Ramiah;

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

nations.

61 But the thing difpleafed Samuel when they faid, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

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 fhould not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done fince day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, where with they have forfaken me, and ferved other gods: fo do they alfo unto thee.

11 cometh to Samuel. 18 Samuel entertaineth Saul at the feaft.

Now there was a man, of Benjamin

whofe name was the fon of Abiel,the fon of Zeror,the fon ofBechorath, the fon of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

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

3 And the affes of Kifh, Sauls father, were loft; and Kifh faid to Saul liis fon, Take now one of the fervants with thee, and arile, go feek the affes. 4And 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 9 Now therefore hearken unto their were not: and he paffed through the land voice: howbeit, yet proteft folemnly unto oftheBenjamites,but they found them not. them, and fhew them the manner of the king that fhall reign over them.

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

5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, 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.

11 And he faid, This will be the manner 6 And he faid unto him, Behold now, of the king that fhall reign over you: He thereis in this city a man ofGod, and he will take your fons, and appoint them for is an honourable man; all that he faith himself,for his chariots,& to be his horfe- cometh furely to pafs: now let us go thi men, & fome fhall run before his chariots. ther, peradventure he can fhew us our 12 And he will appoint him captains way that we should go.

over thousands, and captains over fifties, Then faid Saul to his fervant, But beand will fet of them to ear his ground, & hold, if we go, what fhall we bring the to reap his harvest, and to make his inftru- man? for the bread is fpent in our vellels, ments of war,&inftruments of his chariots and there is not a prefent to bring to the 13 And he will take your daughters to man of God: what have we? be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and 8 And the fervantanfwered Saul again, to be bakers. and faid, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a fhekel of filver: that will give toy man of God,to tell us our way. 9(Before time in Ifrael, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he fpake, Come, and let us go to the feer: for he that is now called a Prophet, was before time called a Seer)

14 And he will take your fields and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the belt of them, and give them to his fervants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your feed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his fervants.

15 And he will take your men fervants, and your maid-fervants, and your goodlieft young men, and your alles, and put them to his work.

I

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

17 He will take the tenth of your fheep, And as they went up the hill to the and yefhall be his fervants. city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and faid unto then, Is the feer here?

18 And ye fhall cry out in that day, becaufe of your king which ye fhall have chofen you; and the LORD will not hear 12 And they anfwered them, and faid, you in that day. He is; behold, he is before you: make 191 Nevertheless, the people refufed halte now; for he came to day to the city: to obey the voice of Samuel; and they for there is a facrifice of the people to day faid, Nay, but we will have a king overus: in the high place.

20 That we alfo may be like all the na- 13 Affoon as ye be come into the city, tions, and that our king may judge us, ye fhall ftraightway finde him before hego and go out before us,and fight our battels. up to the high place to eat for the people 21 And Samuel heard all the words of will not eat until he come, because he the people, and he rehearfed them in the doth blefs the facrifice, and afterwards ears of the LORD. they eat that be bidden.Now therefore get you up, for about this time ye fhall findehim.

22 And the LORD faid to Samuel, Hearken unto their voyce, and make them a king. And Samuel faid unto the men of Ifrael, Go ye every man unto his eity.

14 And they went up into the city and

whee

1: Samuel.

Samuel anointeth Saul. Saul chofen king; when they were come into the city,behold, hath anointed thee to be captain over his Samuel came out against them for to go inheritance? up to the high place. 2 When thou art departed from me to 15 Now the LORD had told Samuelday, then thou shalt finde two men by Ra in his ear a day before Saul came, faying, chels fepulchre in the border of Benjamin, 16 To morrow about this time I will at Zelzah: and they will fay unto thee fend thee a man out of the land of Benja- The affes which thou wentelt to feek are min, and thou shalt anoint him to be ca- found: and lo, thy father hath left the care ptain over my people Ifrael, that he may of the affes, and forroweth for you, faying, fave my people out of the hand of the What fhall I do for my fon? Philiftínes: for I have looked upon me 3 Then fhalt thou go on forward from people,because their cry is come unto me, thence and thou shalt come to the plain 17 And when Samuel faw Saul, the of Tabor, and there fhall meet thee three LORD faid unto him, Behold, the man men going up to God to Beth-el, one carwhom I fpake to thee of: this fame fhall rying three kids, and another carrying reigne over my people. three loaves of bread, and another car

18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in rying a bottle of wine. the gate, and faid, Tell me, I pray thee, where the feers houfeis.

4 And they will falute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou thalt 19 And Samuel anfwered Saul, and faid, receive of their hands. Iam the feer: go up before me unto the 5 After that, thou shalt come to the hill high place, for ye fhall eat with me to day; of God, where is the garifon of the Philiand to morrow I will let thee go, and will ftines: and it fhall come to pafs when then tell thee all that is in thine heart. art come thither to the city,that thou shalt 20 And as for thine affes that were loft nieet a company of prophets coming down three dayes ago, fet not thy minde on from the high place, with a pfaltery, and a them, for they are found: and on whom is tabret, anda pipe, and a harp before them, all the defire of Ifrael? is it not on thee, and they fhall prophefie. and on all thy fathers houfe?

21 And Saul anfwered and faid Am not I a Benjamite of the fmalleft of the tribes of Ifrael? and my family the leaft of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then fpeakeft thou fo to me?

6 And the spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou fhalt prophefie with them, & fhalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be when thefe fignes are come unto thee, that thou do as occafion fhall ferve thee, for God is with thee.

22 And Samuel took Saul,and his fer- 8 And thoufhalt go down before me to vant, and brought them into the parlour, Gilgal, and behold, I will come down unto and made them fit in the chiefelt place thee,to offer burnt-offerings, and to facriamong them that were bidden, which were fice facrifices of peace-offerings: feven about thirty perfons. dayes fhalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, 23 And Samuel faid unto the cook, and fhew thee what thou shalt do. Bring the portion which I gave thee, of 9 And it was fo, that when he had which I faid unto thee, Set it by thee. turned his back to go from Samuel, Ged 24 And the cook took up the fhoulder, gave him another heart: and all those and that which was upon it, and fet it be- figns came to pass that day. fore Saul: and Samuel faid Behold, that to And when they came thither to the which is left, let it before thee, and eat; for hill, behold, a company of prophets met unto this time bath it been kept for thee, him, and the fpirit of God came upon him, fince I faid, I have invited the people: fo and he prophefied among them. Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

II And it came to rafs when all that 25 And when they were come down knew him before time, faw, that behold,he from the high place into the city, Samuel prophefied among the Prophets, then the communed with Saul upon the top of the people faid one to another, What is this houfe. that is come unto the fun of Kish? Is Saul

26 And they arofe early: and it came to alfo among the Prophets? pafs about the fpring of the day, that Sa- 12 And one of the fame place anfwered muel called Saul to the top of the houfe, and faid, But who is their father? therefaying, Up that I may Tend thee away. And fore it became a proverb, Is Saul alfo Saul arofe, and they went out both of among the Prophets? them, he and Samuel, abroad.

13 And when he had made an end of 27 And as they were going down to the prophefying, he came to the high place. end of the city, Samuel faid to Saul, Bid 14 And Sauls uncle faid unto him, the fervant pafs on before us, (and he and to his fervant, Whither went ye? And paffed on) but stand thou ftill a while, that he faid, To feek the affes: and when we I may fhew thee the word of God, faw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

CHAP. X.

1 Samuel anointetb Saul. 9 Saulsheart is changed and be propbefietb. 17 He is cboJen at Miz peb by lot.

15 And Sauls uncle faid, Tellime, I pray thee, what Samuel faid unto you. 16 And Saul faid unto his uncle, He

Then Samuel took a vial, of oy, and told us plainly that the affes were found. poured it upon his head, and kiffed But of the matter ofthe kingdom, wherehim, and faid, Is it not because the LORD of Samuel fpake, he told him not.

*7¶And