CHAP. XIV.

■ Jonathan miraculously fmiteth the Philistines Garifon. 15 A divine Terrour maketh them beat themselves. 24 Saul's unadvised Adjuration hindreth the Victory. 36 Jonathan faved by the People.

Ver. 1

Now it came to Paid unto the young Man that

TOW it came to pafs upon a Day, that Jonathan

bear his Armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philiftines Garifon, that is on the other fide: but he told not his Father.

4 And between the Paffages by which Jonathan fought to go over unto the Philiftines Garifon, there was a sharp Rock on the one fide, and a fharp Rock on the other fide.

6 And Jonathan faid to the young Man that bare his Armour, Come, and let us go over to the Garison of these Uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no Restraint to the LORD to fave by MANY or by FEW.

8 Jonathan faid, Behold, we will pafs over unto these Men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

9 If they fay thus unto us, 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 fay thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up for the LORD hath delivered them into our Hand; and this fhall be a Sign unto us.

II And both of them difcovered themfelves unto the Garifon of the Philiftines and the Philiftines faid, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the Holes, where they had hid themselves.

12 And the Men of the Garifon answered Jonathan, and faid, Come up to us, and we will fhew you a Thing. And Jonathan faid unto his Armour-bearer, Come up after me; for the LORD hath DELIVERED them into the Hand of Ifrael.

13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his Hands, and upon his Feet, and his Armour-bearer after him and they fell before Jonathan; and his Armour-bearer flew after him.

14 And that first Slaughter which Jonathan and his Armour-bearer made, was about twenty Men.

15 And there was trembling in the Hoft, and among all the People; and the EARTH QUAKED: fo it was a very great TREMBLING.

16 And the Watchmen of Saul looked; and behold, the Multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

17 Then faid Saul, Number now, and fee who is gone from us. And when they had numbred, behold, Jonathan and his Armour-bearer were not there.

18 And Saul faid unto Ahiah, Bring hither the Ark of GOD.

19 And it came to pafs while Saul talked unto the Priest, that the Noise that was in the Hoft of the Philistines went on, and increased.

20 And Saul, and all the People came to the Battle: and behold, every Man'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, they alfo turned to be with the Ifraelites. zz Likewise all the Men of Ifrael which had hid themfelves, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they alfo followed hard after them in the Battle.

23 So the LORD SAVED Ifrael that Day.

24 And the Men of Ifrael were diftreffed that Day: for Saul had adjured the People, faying, Curfed be the Man that eateth any Food until Evening, that I may be avenged on mine Enemies: fo none of the People tasted any Food.

25 And all they of the Land came to a Wood, and there was Honey upon the Ground.

26 But no Man put his Hand to his Mouth: for the People feared the Oath.

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 dipt it in an Honeycomb, and put his Hand to his Mouth; and his Eyes were enlightned.

28 Then anfwered one of the People, and faid, Thy Father ftraitly charged the People with an Oath, faying, Curfed be the Man that eateth any Food this Day. And the People were faint.

29 Then faid Jonathan, My Father hath TROUBLED the Land: fee, I pray you, how mine Eyes have been enlightned, because I tafted a little of this Honey:

30 How much more, if haply the 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 among the Philiftines?

31 And they fmote the Philistines that Day: and the People were very faint.

32 And the People flew upon the Spoil, and took Sheep, and Oxen, and Calves, and flew them on the Ground: and the People did eat them with the Blood.

33 Then they told Saul, faying, Behold, the People fin against the LORD, in that they eat with the Blood. And he faid, Ye have tranfgreffed: roll a great Stone unto me this Day.

34 And Saul faid, Difperfe yourselves among the People, and fay unto them, Bring me hither every Man his Ox, and every Man his Sheep, and flay them here, and eat; and fin not against the LORD in eating with the Blood.

35 And Saul built an Altar unto the LORD: the fame was the first Altar that he built unto the LORD.

37 And Saul asked Counsel of GOD, Shall I go down after the Philiftines? wilt thou deliver them into the Hand of Ifrael? But he answered him not that Day.

38 And Saul faid, Draw ye near hither all the chief of the People and know and fee wherein this Sin hath been this Day.

39 For as the LORD liveth, which faveth Ifrael, though it be in Jonathan my Son, he fhall furely die. But there was not a Man among all the People that answered him.

40 Then faid he unto all Ifrael, Be ye on one fide, and I and Jonathan my Son will be on the other fide. And the People faid unto Saul, Do what feemeth good unto thee.

741 Therefore Saul faid unto the LORD GOD of Ifrael, Give a perfect Lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken.

42 And Saul faid, Caft Lots between me and Jonathan my Son. And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul faid to Jonathan, Tell me what thou haft done. And Jonathan told him, and faid, I 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 do so, and more alfo : for thou fhalt furely die.

45 And the People faid unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great Salvation in Ifrael? GOD forbid as the LORD liveth, there fhall not one Hair of his Head fall to the Ground; for he hath wrought- with GoD this Day. So the People refcued Jonathan that he died not. 47 Saul took the Kingdom over Ifrael, and fought against all his Enemies on every fide: and whitherfoever he turned himfelf, he vexed them.

48 And delivered Ifrael out of the Hands of them that fpoiled them.

52 And there was fore War against the Philiftines all the Days of Saul: and when Saul faw any ftrong Man, or any valiant Man, he took him unto him.

CHA P. XV.

1 Samuel fendeth Saul to deftroy Amalek: 8 He fpareth Agag and the best of the Spoil. 32 Samuel killeth Agag.

Ver. 10

HEN came the Word of the LORD unto Sa

Tmuel, faying,

11 It repenteth me that I have fet up Saul to be King: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my Commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and

he cried unto the LORD all Night.

12 And when Samuel rofe early to meet Saul in the Morning, it was told Samuel, faying, Saul came to Carmel.

13 And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul faid unto him, Bleffed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the Commandment of the LORD.

14 And Samuel faid, What meaneth then this bleating of the Sheep in mine Ears, and the lowing of the Oxen which I hear?

15 And Saul faid, They have brought them from the Amalekites for the People fpared the best of the Sheep and of the Oxen, to facrifice unto the LORD thy GOD, and the reft we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel faid unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath faid to me this Night. And he faid unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel faid, When thou waft little in thine own fight, waft thou not made the Head of the Tribes of Ifrael, and the LORD anointed thee King over Ifrael?

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18 And

18 And the LORD fent thee on a Journey, and faid, Go, and utterly destroy the Sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be confumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the Voice of the LORD, but didft fly upon the Spoil, and didft Evil in the fight of the LORD?

20 And Saul faid unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the Voice of the LORD, and have gone the Way which the LORD fent me, and have brought Agag the King of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the People took of the Spoil, Sheep and Oxen, the Chief of the Things which fhould have been utterly destroyed, to facrifice unto the LORD thy GOD in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel faid, Hath the LORD as great Delight in Burnt-offerings and Sacrifices, as in obeying the Voice of the LORD? Behold, to OBEY is better than Sacrifice; and to hearken, than the Fat of Rams.

23 For Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft, and Stubbornness is as Iniquity and Idolatry; because thou haft rejected the Word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being King,

Samuel fent by GOD, under Pretence of a Sacrifice, cometh to Beth-lehem, 11 and anointeth David. 19 Saul's Evil Spirit,

Ver. 1 ND the LORD faid unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, feeing I have rejected him from reigning over Ifrael? fill thine Horn with Oil, and go, I will fend thee to Jeffe the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a King among his Sons.

2 And Samuel faid, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD faid, Take an Heifer with thee, and fay, I am come to facrifice to the LORD.

3 And call Jefle to the Sacrifice, and I will fhew thee what thou fhalt do: and thou fhalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

4 And Samuel did that which the LORD fpake, and came to Beth-lehem: and the Elders of the Town trembled at his coming, and faid, Comeft thou peaceably?

5 And he faid, Peaceably: I am come to facrifice unto

the