The Israelites repent. CHAPTER VII. I. SAMUEL, VII, VIII. h 4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 5 And Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. 6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, kand drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and 'fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. 7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, 1 Cease not to cry unto the LORD The Philistines subdued. and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD 2 heard him. 10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. S 3 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 And Samuel judged Israel 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 Israel in all those places. 17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD. X CHAPTER VIII. The Israelites ask a king. 6 Samuel, displeased thereat, is comforted of God. 10 He describeth to them the manner of a king. 19 Because of their importunity, God directeth Samuel to make them a king. [B. c. 1112.] our God for us, that he will save us out of AND it came to the hand of the Philistines. old, that he 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, over Israel. answered. p See Josh. 10. 10. Judg. 4. 15. & 5. 20. ch. 2. 10. 2 Sam. 22. 14. 15. q Gen. 28. 18. & 31, 45. & 35. 14. Josh. 4. 9. & 24. 26, * That is, The stone of help: ch. 4. 1. r Judg. 13. 1. s ch. 13. 5. 12. 11. Judg. 2. 16. 4 Heb, and he circuited. CHAP. VIII.a Deut. 16. 18. 2 Chr. 19. 5. compared with Judg. 5. 10. t ver. 6. ch. u ch. 8. 4. x Judg. 21. 4. b See Judg. 10. 4. & 12. 14. The Israelites desire a king. I. SAMUEL, IX. 2 6 But the thing 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 they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 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 show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. k 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. The manner of a king foretold. 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 5 officers, and to his servants. 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 ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. n 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge 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. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. CHAPTER IX. Saul, not finding his father's asses, 18 cometh to Samuel. 19 Samuel entertaineth him at the feast; 25 and the next morning bringeth him on his way. [B. c. 1095.] NOW 12 And he will appoint him captains Now there was a man of Benjamin, 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. Vashni, 1 Chr. 6. 28. c Jer. 22, 15, 16, 17. d Ex. 18. 21. 1 Tim. 3. 3. & 6. 10. e Deut. 16. 19. Ps. 15. 5. f ver. 19, 20. Deut. 17. 14. Hos, 13. 10. Acts 13. 21. 2 Heb. was evil in the eyes of Samuel. g See Ex. 16. 8. h ch. 10. 19. & 12, 17, 19. Hos. 13. 10, 11. 3 Or, obey. * Or, notwithstanding when thou hast edemnly protested against them, then thou shalt show, dc. i ver. 11. a W whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, 'a Benjamite, a mighty man of 2 power. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: Saul seeketh his father's asses. I. SAMUEL, IX. He cometh to Samuel and there was not among the children of | to draw water, and said unto them, Is the Israel a goodlier person than he: from his seer here? shoulders and 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. 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found 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. d 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: 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 10 told Samuel 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, there is in this city a man of God, and he 16 To morrow about this time I will send is an honourable man; all that he saith thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither;" and thou shalt anoint him to be captain peradventure he can show us our way that over my people Israel, that he may save we should go. my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, 'what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 5 4 8 And the servant answered Saul 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. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a 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. 7 11 ¶ And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, P 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. 20 And as for a thine asses that were lost 12 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? 13 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. 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 26 And they arose early: and it 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 away. And Saul arose, 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 15 a while, that I may show thee the word of God. с Saul's heart is changed. 2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say 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? 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 3 4 7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for P 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 sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do. 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 t u See Judg. 6, 15. 13 Heb. accordEz. 24. 4. 1 Or, reser ed 15 Heb. to day.. Kings 9. 3, 6. b Ps. 2. 12. y Deut. c Acts as Judg. 18. 15. h ver. 10. 21. 2 Kings 3. 15. ch. 19. 23, 24. 1 Cor. 14. 1. CHAP. X.-a ch. 9. 16. & 16. 13.2 13. 21. d Deut. 32. 9. Ps. 78. 71. e Gen. 35. 19, 20, f Josh. 18. 28. Heb. ask thee of peace: 'Heb. the business. g Gen. 28. 22. & 35. 1, 3, 7. o Ex. 4. 8. Luke 2. 12. 9.33. p Judg. 6, 12. shoulder. i eh, 13. 3. k ch. 9. 12. 1 Ex. 15. 20, 3 Heb. it shall come to pass, that when these signs, dr. Heb. do for thee as thine hand shall find, Judg. Hleb. Heb. turned. q eh. 11. 14, 15. & 13. 4., r ch. 13. 8. 8 vel 5. t ch. 19. 20. Saul is chosen by lot. u I. SAMUEL, XI. 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? 8 12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the 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 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. 17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; a 18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: c 19 And ye have this day rejected 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. He is proclaimed king. 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 inquired of the 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 of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, 9h God save the king. i 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. and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 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, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, 'Give us seven days' respite, that we k Judg. 20. 14. ch. 11. 4. 1 ch. 11. 12. 8. 2. 1 Kings 4. 21. & 10. 25. 2 Chr. 17. 5. he was as though he had been deaf. CHAP. XI.-a ch. 12. 12. b Judg. 21. 8. 1 Kings 20, 34. Job 41. 4. Ez. 17. 13. 1 Heb. Furbear us. m Deut. 13. 13. n 2 Sam. Ps. 72. 10. Matt. 2. 11. 10 OT, |