Saul chosen at Mizpeh.

s ch.7.5,6.

t Ju.2.2. 6.8,9. Ne.9.9,&c.

u ch.8.7,19. 12.12.

Jabesh-gilead rescued.

|b Jabesh-gilead and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make c a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this d condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach e upon all Israel.

out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians. and out of the hand of all king-w doms, and of them that oppressed

you:

Is.63.9. Jer.3.23.

Jos.7.14,

&c.

9 Let the king live, IKI.1.25, 39. 2Ki.11.12.

19 And u ye have this day re- ch.9.2. jected your God, who himself saved v 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 w by your tribes, and by your thousands. y ch.11.4. 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 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 r was higher than

z De. 13. 13. 2Ch.13.7.

a 2Sam.8.2. IKI.4.21. 10.25. 2Ch.17.5. Ps.72.10.

10 or, was as though he had been deaf. (CHAP. 11.)

a ch.12.12.

Junto him, 1 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.

4 T Then came the messengers to f 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 g 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 hewed them in pieces h and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever i 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 2 with one consent.

8 And when he numbered them

24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none liked him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, 9 God save the king.

c Is.36.16.

Eze. 17.13.

Pr. 12.10.

e ch.17.26. 1 Forbear us. 25 Then Samuel told the people fch.15.34. the manner of the kingdom, and 2Sa.21.6. wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent g ch.10.10. ail the people away, every man to h Ju.19.29. his house. i Ju.21.5-10.

were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have 3 help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out m unto you, and ye shall do with us

a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

Ju.20.1. k Ju.1.5.

11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three n

hal said. How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. a But he 10 held his peace.

CHAPTER ΧΙ. Nahash offereth them of Jabesh-yiLead a reproachful condition.

ance.

I ch.31.11. m ver.3. n Ju.7.16.

o ch,10.27.

THEN Nahash a the Ammonite p Lu. 19.27. came up, and encamped against

midst of the host in the morningwatch, 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.

12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, o Shall Saul reign over us? bring p

Samuel testifieth

the men, that we may put them to death.

his integrity.

ch.14.45. 25a.19.22.

13 And Saul said, There q shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought r ch.19.5. salvation r in Israel. Is.59.16.

CHAPTER XII.

Samuel testifieth his integrity.

AND Samuel said unto all Israel,

Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said a unto me, and have made b a king over you.

b ch.10.24. 11.14,15.

c Nu. 16. 15. Acts 20.33.

2Co. 12.14.

1 ransom. 2 or, that I should hide mine eyes at him.

d De. 16. 19. e Ex.22.4.

10 And m they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and n have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

11 And the LORD sent Jerrubbaal, o and Bedan, and Jephthah, p and Samuel, q and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12 And when ye saw that r Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.

13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom

walketh before you and I am old and gray-headed; and behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

20.

3 or, made. g Is. 1.18.

Mi.6.2,3. 4 righteous

nesses, or, bene fils, Ju.5.11.

with.

3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed; whose c ox have I taken? or whose ass have I5 taken? or whom have I defrauded?h Ex.3.10. whom have I oppressed? or of i Ju.4.2. whose hand have I received any 1 bribe 2 to blind d mine eyes therewith? and I will restore e it

k Ju.10.7.

13.1.

Ju.3.12. m Ju. 10.10. n Ju.2.13. o Ju.6.14,32. p Ju. 11. 1,&c.

5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, q ch.7.13. that f ye have not found aught in my hand. And they answered, Hes

is witness.

6And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that 3 advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reasong with you before the LORD of all the 4 righteous acts of the LORD, which he did 5 to you and to your fathers.

r ch.11.2.

Hos.13.11.

t Jos.24. 14, 20. Ps.81.1215.

mouth. 7 be after. u Le.26.14,

&c.

v ver.9. w Ja.5. 16-18. x Ex. 14.31.

Ezra 10.9.

10. 17. Is.26.16. 1Jno.5. 16.

8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto y Ex.9.28. the LORD, then the LORD sent h Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, z De.11.16. and made them dwell in this place. 9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, i captam of the b Hab. 2. 18. host of Hazor, and into the hand!

Jer.3.1.

a Jer. 16, 19. Jon.2.8.

LORD hath set a king over you.

14 Ift ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the 6 commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye, and also the king that reigneth over you 7 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 u shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was v 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 w call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day and a all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray y for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we Idie not for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

20 T And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet z 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 a cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain: b

Saul's selected band.

Samuel reproves Saul. offerings. And he offered the burnt ollering.

c La.3.31,32.

23 Moreover as for me, God for- d Eze.20.9,14. bid that I should sin against the 8 from. LORD & in ceasing to pray e for you but I will teach you the good e Col.1.9. and the right way:

21 Only fearf the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider 9 how great things he hath done for you.

25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both g ye and your king.

CHAPTER XIII.

f Ec.12.13.

9 or, what a great thing.

g De.28.36. (CHAP. 13.)

1 the son of

one year
in his
reigning.

a ch.10.26.

b ch.10.5.

men of Israel; whereof two thou 2 or, the hill.

Ge.34.30. Ex.5.21. c Jos.7.2.

sand were with Saul in Michmash 3 did stink,
and in mount Beth-el, and a thou-
sand were with Jonathan in Gi-
beah a of Benjamin: and the rest
of the people he sent every man to

his tent.
3 And Jonathan smote the gar-"
rison b of the Philistines that was!
in 2 Geba; and the Philistines!
heard of it. And Saul blew the
trumpet throughout all the land,
saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

d 25a.24.14.

e ch.14.11. Ju.6.2. trembled after him. fch. 10.8.

4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also 3 was 5 bless. had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called 6 intreated together after Saul to Gilgal. the face. g 2Ch.16.9.

ch. 15.11,28.

5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and Six thousand horsemen, and people! as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude: and they came up and pitched in Michmash, east- found. ward from Beth-aven.c

i Ps.89.20. Acts 13.22.

k ch.14.2.

ver.3.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait d (for the peo-8 Gelah, ple were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves e in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad, and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet) in Gilgal, and all the people 4 followed him trembling.

Jos. 18.23.

m Jos. 16.3. n Ge. 14.2.

o

Ne.11.34. Hos.11.8. 2K1.24. 14. Is.54.16. Jer.24:1.

8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time f that 9 file with Samuel had appointed: but Samuel mouths. came not to Gilgal; and the people 10 set. were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said, Bring hither a P Ju.5.8. burnt offering to me, and peace

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might 5 salute him.

11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not 6 made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, g Thou hast done foolishly thou h hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he com

manded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue the LORD hath sought him a iman after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were 7 present with him, about k six hundred men.

16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, 7 unto the land of Shual:

18 And another company turned the way to Beth-horon: m and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of n Zeboin, toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no smith o found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:

20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

21 Yet they had a 9 file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to 10 sharpen the goads.

22 Sop it came to pass in the day

A divine terror. forth out of the i holes where they had hid themselves.

11 or, stand

ing camp.

q Is. 10.28.

12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come k up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armour

CHAPTER XIV.

Jonathan goeth and miraculously smiteth the Philistines' garrison.

1

1 or, there was a day.

a ch.13.15.

LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his

m

3 And Ahiah b the son of Ahitub, I-chabod's c brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod.d And the people knew not that Jo-3 Be still. nathan was gone.

h Ge.24.14.

4 T And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison,e there was a sharp rock on the one side, i ch. 13.6. and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The 2 forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other south-or, half a ward over against Gibeah.

6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to ƒ save by many or by few.

7 And his armour-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass overg unto these men, a , and we will discover ourselves unto them.

9 If they say thus unto us, 3 Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand; and this shall be a sign h

unto us.

k 2Ki.14.8. 12Sa.5.24.

m Lev.26.8.

furrow of

an acre.

n 2Ki.7.6,7. Job 18.11.

o ch.13.17.

5 trembling

of God. Ge.35.5. P ver.20.

q 2Sa. 15.24

26.

11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines v ch. 13.5. said, Behold, the Hebrews come

armour-bearer slew after him.

14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armour-bearer made,was about twenty men, within as it were 4 an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plough.

15 And there was trembling n in the host, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, o they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a 5 very great trembling.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and behold, the multitude melted away, and p they went on beating down one another.

17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there.

18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, q Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

19 And it came to pass while Saul talkedr unto the priest, that the 6 noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

20 And Saul and all the people that were with him 7 assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and behold, every man's s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.

21 Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

22 Likewise all the men of Is rael which had hid t themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 So u the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed overv unto Beth-aven.

Saul's unadvised adjuration. 24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had w adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

w Jos.6.26.

Ex.3.8.
Nu. 13.27.
Mat.3.4.

Pr.25. 16.

25 And all they of the land came y ch.30.12. to a wood, and there was honey x upon the ground.

8

or, weary.

26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honeyz Lev.3.17. dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.

17.10. De. 12.23,

24. Eze.33.25.

or, dealt treacherously.

27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honey-10 in his comb, and put his hand to his hand. mouth; and y his eyes were enlightened.

a Hos.8.14.

28 Then answered one of the peo-1 ple, and said, Thy father straightly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were 8 faint.

that altar he began to build

unto the LORD.

c ch. 10. 19.

Jos.7.14,

&c.

29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray b ch.28.6. you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much more, if haply the 12 corners, people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter 13 or, Shew among the Philistines?

31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalone and the people were very faint. 32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves,and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

Ju.20.2.

d 2Sa.12.5.

the inno-
cent.

Pr. 16.33. Acts 1.24. 14 went forth. f Jon.1.7-10. g ver.27.

h Ru.1.17.

33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin z against the i ver.39. LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have 9 transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

k 2Sa. 14.11. IKI. 1.52. Lu.21.18.

12Ch.19.11. Is. 13.3. 2Cor.6.1. Phil.2 12, 13.

m Is.29.20,21.

34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the n ch.11.11. people brought every man his ox o 2Sa. 10.6. 10 with him that night, and slew 150r,wrought mightily. 35 And Saul a built an altar unto the LORD: 11 the same was the first P ch.15.3,7. altar that he built unto the LORD. q ch.31.2. 36 T And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night,

them there.

1Ch.8.33.

Saul's strength and family.

| and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest. Let us draw near hither unto God.

37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But b he answered him not that day.

38 And Saul said, Draw c ye near hither, all the 12 chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

39 For as d the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.

40 Then said he unto all Israel. Be ve on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, 13 Give a perfect lot.e And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people 14 escaped.

42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, Ig did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and lo, I must die.

44 And Saul answered, God h do so, and more also: for i thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid; as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair k of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God 7 this day. Som the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, n and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, o and against the Philistines and whithersoever he turned himself, he