The ark of God is taken.

CHAP. V, VI. Dagon falls before the ark..

12 T And there ran a man of Benja-ark of the LORD: and the head of Dagon min out of the army, and came to Shiloh and both the palms of his hands were cut the same day with his clothes rent, and off upon the threshold; only the stump of with earth upon his head. Dagon was left to him.

:

13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the way-side 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 noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.

15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could

not see.

16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?

17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Asbdod unto this day.

6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod, and the coasts thereof.

7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

8 They sent therefore, and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

9 And it was so, that after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was 18 And it came to pass, when he made against the city with a very great destrucmention of the ark of God, that he fell tion: and he smote the men of the city from off the seat backward by the side of both small and great, and they had emethe gate, and his neck brake, and he died: rods in their secret parts.

for he was an old man, and heavy. And 10 Therefore they sent the ark of God he had judged Israel forty years. to Ekron. And it came to pass as the ark

19 And his daughter-in-law, Phine- of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites has' wife, was with child near to be deli- cried out, saying, They have brought vered: and when she heard the tidings about the ark of the God of Israel to us, that the ark of God was taken, and that to slay us and our people. her father-in-law and her husband were 11 So they sent and gathered together dead, she bowed herself, and travailed; all the lords of the Philistines, and said, for her pains came upon her. Send away the ark of the God of Israel, 20 And about the time of her death, and let it go again to his own place, that it the women that stood by her said unto her, slay us not, and our people: for there was Fear not; for thou hast borne a son. But a deadly destruction throughout all the city; she answered not, neither did she regard it. the hand of God was very heavy there.

21 And she named the child I-chabod, 12 And the men that died not, were saying, The glory is departed from Israel. smitten with the emerods: and the cry (Because the ark of God was taken, and of the city went up to heaven. because of her father-in-law and her hus

band.)

CHAP. VI.

22 And she said, The glory is depart-AND the ark of the LORD was in the

country of the Philistines seven

ed from Israel: forthe ark of God is taken. months.

CHAP. V.

2 And the Philistines called for the

AND the Philistines took the ark of God, priests and the diviners, saying, What shall

Ashdod.

and brought it from Eben-ezer unto we do to the ark of the Lo3D? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of 3 And they said, If ye send away the God, they brought it into the house of Da-ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; gon, and set it by Dagon. but in any wise return him a trespass-of3 And when they of Ashdod arose fering: then ye shall be healed, and it early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was shall be known to you why his hand is fallen upon his face to the earth before the not removed from you. ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, 4 Then said they, What shall be the and set him in his place again. trespass-offering which we shall return 4 And when they arose early on the to him? They answered, Five golden morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fall- emerods, and five golden mice, according en upon his face to the ground before the to the number of the lords of the Philis 231

The Philistines return it.

1. SAMUEL.

Repentance of the Israelites.

tines: for one plague was on you all, and 18 And the golden mice, according to on your lords. the number of all the cities of the Philis-. 5 Wherefore ye shall make images of tines belonging to the five lords, both of your emerods, and images of your mice fenced cities, and of country villages, even that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they unto the God of Israel: peradventure he set down the ark of the LORD: which stone will lighten his hand from off you, and remaineth unto this day in the field of from off your gods, and from off your land. Joshua the Beth-shemite.

6 Wherefore then do ye harden your 19 And he smote the men of Bethhearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hard-shemesh, because they had looked into the ened their hearts? when he had wrought ark of the LORD, even he smote of the wonderfully among them, did they not let people fifty thousand and threescore and the people go, and they departed? ten men: and the people lamented, be

7 Now therefore make a new cart, and cause the LORD had smitten many of the take two milch-kine on which there hath people with a great slaughter. come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, 20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, and bring their calves home from them: Who is able to stand before this holy 8 And take the ark of the LORD, and LORD God? and to whom shall he go up lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels from us?

of gold which ye return him for a trespass- 21 And they sent messengers to the offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The and send it away, that it may go. Philistines have brought again the ark of 9 And see, if it goeth up by the way the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up of his own coast to Beth shemesh, then he to you. hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us.

CHAP. VII.

AND the men of Kirjath-jearim came,

and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab 10 And the men did so; and took in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son two milch-kine, and tied them to the cart, to keep the ark of the LORD. and shut up their calves at home:

2 And it came to pass, while the ark 11 And they laid the ark of the LORD abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice long; for it was twenty years: and all the of gold and the images of their emerods. house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

12 And the kine took the straight way 3 And Samuel spake unto all the to the way of Beth-shemesh, and went house of Israel, saying, If ye do return along the highway, lowing as they went, unto the LORD with all your hearts, then and turned not aside to the right hand or put away the strange gods, and Ashtaroth, to the left; and the lords of the Philis-from among you, and prepare your hearts tines went after them unto the border of unto the LORD, and serve him only: and Beth-shemesh.he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

13 And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley : and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

14 And the cart came into the field of 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto where there was a great stone and they the LORD.

clave the wood of the cart, and offered. 6 And they gathered together to Mizthe kine a burnt-offering unto the LORD. peh, and drew water, and poured it out 15 And the Levites took down the ark before the LORD, and fasted on that day, of the LORD, and the coffer that was with and said there, We have sinned against it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and the LORD. And Samuel judged the chilput them on the great stone: and the men dren of Israel in Mizpeh. of Beth-shemesh offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philis16 And when the five lords of the Phi- tines went up against Israel. And when listines had seen it, they returned to Ek- the children of Israel heard it, they were ron the same day. afraid of the Philistines.

17 And these are the golden emerods 8 And the children of Israel said to Sa which the Philistines returned for a tres-muel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our pass-offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod God for us, that he will save us out of the one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for hand of the Philistines. Gath one, for Ekron one; 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb,

The Philistines discomfited.

CHAP. VIH, IX.

The manner of a king. and offered it for a burnt-offering wholly 9 Now therefore hearken unto their unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the voice: how beit, yet protest solemnly unto LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. them, and shew them the manner of the 10 And as Samuel was offering up the king that shall reign over them. burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near 10 And Samuel told all the words of to battle against Israel: but the LORD the LORD unto the people that asked of thundered with a great thunder on that day him a king.

upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; 11 And he said, This will be the manand they were smitten before Israel. ner of the king that shall reign over you: 11 And the men of Israel went out of He will take your sons, and appoint them Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and for himself, for his chariots, and to be his smote them, until they came under Beth-car. horsemen; and some shall run before his 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set chariots. it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

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.

12 And he will appoint him captains 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 14 And the cities which the Philistines be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to had taken from Israel were restored to Is-be bakers. rael, from Ekron even unto ath; and the 14 And he will take your fields, and coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the your vineyards, and your olive-yards, hands of the Philistines: and there was even the best of them, and give them to his peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the

days of his life.

servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to 16 And he went from year to year in his officers, and to his servants. circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Miz- 16 And he will take your men-servants, peh, and judged Israel in all those places. and your maid-servants, and your good17 And his return was to Ramah; for liest young men, and your asses, and put there was his house; and there he judged them to his work. Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

CHAP. VIII.

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

18 And ye shall cry out in that day beND it came to pass, when Samuel was cause of your king which ye shall have over Israel.

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

you in that day.

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

3 And his sons walked not in his ways, 20 That we also may be like all the nabut turned aside after lucre, and took tions; and that our king may judge us, and bribes, and perverted judgment. go out before us, and fight our battles. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered 21 And Samuel heard all the words of themselves together, and came to Samuel the people, and he rehearsed them in the unto Ramah, ears of the LORD.

5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearkold, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: en unto their voice, and make them a king. now make us a king to judge us like all And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. CHAP. IX.

the nations.

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

NOW

TOW there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of 7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of BechoHearken unto the voice of the people in rath, the son of Aphiab, a Benjamite, all that they say unto thee: for they have mighty man of power.

not rejected thee, but they have rejected 2 And he had a son, whose name was me, that I should not reign over them. Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly : 8 According to all the works which they and there was not among the children of have done since the day that I brought Israel a goodlier person than he: from his them up out of Egypt even unto this day, shoulders and upward he was higher than wherewith they have forsaken me, and any of the people.

served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 3 And the asses of Kish, Saul's father,

Saul is entertained by Samuel.

I. SAMUEL. He is anointed by Samuel. were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, ple, because their cry is come unto me. Take now one of the servants with thee, 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the and arise, go seek the asses. LORDSaid unto him, Behold the man whom 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, I spake to thee of! this same shall reign and passed through the land of Shalisha, over my people. but they found their not: then they passed 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in through the land of Shalim, and there they the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, were not: and he passed through the land where the seer's house is.

of the Benjamites, but they found them not. 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, 5 And when they were come to the I am the seer: go up before me unto the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that high place; for ye shall eat with me to-day, was with him, Come, and let us return; and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will lest my father leave caring for the asses, tell thee all that is in thy heart. 20 And as for thine asses that were lost

and take thought for us.

6 And he said unto him, Behold now, three days ago, set not thy mind on them; there is in this city a man of God, and he is for they are found. And on whom is all the an honourable man; all that he saith com-desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on eth surely to pass: now let us go thither; all thy father's house?

peradventure he can shew us our way that 21 And Saul answered and said, Am not we should go. I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes

7 Then said Saul to his servant, But of Israel? and my family the least of all behold, if we go, what shall we ring the the families of the tribe of Benjamin? man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, wherefore then speakest thou so to me? and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

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.)

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.

24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well which is left! set it before thee, and eat; said; come, let us go: so they went unto the city where the man of God was.

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

for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

25 ¶ And when they were come_down' from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the

12 And they answered them, and said, house. He is; behold, he is before you: make 26 And they arose early: and it came to haste now, for he came to-day to the city; pass about the spring of the day that Samuel for there is a sacrifice of the people to-day called Saul to the top of the house, saying, in the high place: Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul

13 As soon as ye be come into the city, arose, and they went out both of them, he ye shall straightway find him, before he go and Samuel, abroad.

up to the high place to eat: for the people 27 And as they were going down to the will not eat until he come, because he doth end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they the servant pass on before us, (and he eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you passed on,) but stand thou still a while, up: for about this time ye shall find him, that I may shew thee the word of God. 14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out agains 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,

T

CHAP. X.

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

16 To-morrow about this time I will 2 When thou art departed from me_tosend thee a man out of the land of Benja- day, then thou shalt find two men by Ramin, and thou shalt anoint him to be cap-chel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin tain over my people Israel, that he may at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, save my people out of the hand of the Phi- The asses which thou wentest to seek are listines: for 1 have looked upon my peo-found: and lo, thy father hath left the care

Saul prophesies.

CHAP. XI.

He is chosen king. of the asses,and sorroweth for you, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I What shall I do for my son? brought up Israel out of Egypt, and de3 Then shalt thou go on forward from livered you out of the hand of the Egypthence, and thou shalt come to the plain of tians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, Tabor, and there shall meet thee three and of them that oppressed you: men going up to God to Beth-el, one car- 19 And ye have this day rejected your rying three kids, and another carrying God, who himself saved you out of all three loaves of bread, and another carry- your adversities, and your tribulations; ing a bottle of wine: and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a 4 And they will salute thee, and give king over us. Now therefore present thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, receive of their hands. and by your thousands.

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

2C And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of tines: and it shall come to pass, when thou Benjamin was taken.

art come thither to the city, that thou shalt 21 When he had caused the tribe of meet a company of prophets coming down Benjamin to come near by their families, from the high place with a psaltery, and the family of Matri was taken, and Saul a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before the son of Kish was taken: and when they them; and they shall prophesy :

6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee; for God is with thee.

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.

8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacri- 24 And Samuel said to all the people, fice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, that there is noue like him among all the and shew thee what thou shalt do. people? And all the people shouted, and

9 ¶ And it was so, that when he had said, God save the king. turned his back to go from Samuel, God 25 Then Samuel told the people the mangave him another heart: and all those signs ner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, came to pass that day. and laid it up before the LORD.

And 10 And when they came thither to the Samuel sent all the people away, every hill, behold, a company of prophets met man to his house.

him; and the Spirit of God came upon 26 And Saul also went home to Gihim, and he prophesied among them. beah; and there went with him a band of 11 And it came to pass when all that men, whose hearts God had touched. knew him beforetime, saw,that, behold, he 27 But the children of Belial said, How prophesied among the prophets, then the shall this man save us? And they despised people said one to another, What is this him, and brought him no presents. But that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul he held his peace. also among the prophets?

12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? There

TH

CHAP. XI.

HEN Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: fore it became a proverb, Is Saul also and all the men of Jabesh said unto Naamong the prophets? hash, Make a covenant with us, and we

13 And when he had made an end of will serve thee. prophesying, he came to the high place. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered 14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and them, On this condition will I make a coto his servant, Whither went ye? And he venant with you, that I may thrust out all said, To seek the asses: and when we saw your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel, upon all Israel.

15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. him, Give us seven days respite, that we 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He may send messengers unto all the coasts told us plainly that the asses were found. of Israel: and then, if there be no man to But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof save us, we will come out to thee. Samuel spake, he told him not.

4 T Then came the messengers to Gi

17 And Samuel called the people to-beah of Saul, and told the tidings in the gether unto the LORD to Mizpeh; ears of the people: and all the people lift

18 And said unto the children of Israel, ed up their voices, and wept.