20 And Sau! and all the peo- people with the oath : wherefore ple that were with him assem- he put forth the end of the rod bled themselves, and they came that was in his hand, and dipto the battle : and, behold, eve- ped it in an honey-comb, and ry man's sword was against his put his hand to his mouth ; and fellow, and there was a very his eyes were enlightened. great discomfiture.

28 Then answered one of the 21 Moreover, the Hebrews people, and said, Thy father that were with the Philistines straitly charged the people with before that time, which went up an oath, saying, Cursed be the with them into the camp from man that eateth any food this the country round about, even day. And the people were they also turned to be with the faint. Israelites that were with Saul 29 Then said Jonathan, My and Jonathan.

father hath troubled the land : 22 Likewise all the men of Is- see, I pray you, how mine eyes rael which had hid themselves have been enlightened, because in mount Ephraim, when they I tasted a little of this honey ; heard that the Philistines fled, 30 How much more, if haply even they also followed hard the people had eaten freely toafter them in the battle.

day of the spoil of their enemies 23 So the LORD saved Israel which they found ? for had that day: and the battle passed there not been now a much over unto Beth-aven.

greater slaughter among the 24 And the men of Israel were Philistines ? distressed that day : for Saul 31 And they smote the Phihad adjured the people, saying, listines that day from Michmash Cursed be the man that eateth to Aijalon : and the people were any food until evening, that I very faint. may be avenged on mine ene- 32 And the people flew upon mies. So none of the people the spoil, and took sheep, and tasted any food.

oxen, and calves, and slew them 25 And all they of the land on the ground : and the people came to a wood; and there was did eat them with the blood. honey upon the ground.

33 Then they told Saul, say26 And when the people were ing, Behold, the people sin come into the wood, behold, against the LORD, in that they the honey dropped; but no man eat with the blood. And he put his hand to his mouth : for said, Ye have transgressed : the people feared the cath. roll a great stone ụnto me this

27 But Jonathan heard not day. when his father charged the 34 And Saul said, Disperse

yourselves among the people, || other side. And the people said and say unto them, Bring me unto Saul, Do what seemeth hither every man his ox, and good unto thee. every man his sheep, and slay | 41 Therefore Saul said unto them here, and eat; and sin not the LORD God of Israel, Give a against the Lord in eating with perfect lot. And Saul and Jothe blood. And all the people nathan were taken : but the peobrought every man his ox with ple escaped. him that night, and slew them 42 And Saul said, Cast lots there.

between me and Jonathan my 35 And Saul built an altar un- son. And Jonathan was taken. to the LORD: the same was the 43 Then Saul said to Jonafirst altar that he built unto the than, Tell me what thou hast LORD.

done. And Jonathan told him, 36 And Saul said, Let us go and said, I did but taste a litdown after the Philistines by tle honey with the end of the night, and spoil them until the rod that was in mine hand, and, morning light, and let us not lo, I must die. leave a man of them. And they 44 And Saul answered, God said, Do whatsoever seemeth do so and more also : for thou good unto thee. Then said the shalt surely die, Jonathan. priest, Let us draw near hither 45 (And the people said unto unto God.

Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who 37 And Saul asked counsel of hath wrought this great salvaGod, Shall I go down after the tion in Israel ? God forbid : as Philistines? wilt thou deliver the LORD liveth, there shall not them into the hand of Israel? But one hair of his head fall to the he answered him not that day. ground; for he hath wrought

38 And Saul said, Draw ye with God this day. So the peonear hither, all the chief of the ple rescued Jonathan, that he people : and knd know and see

died not. wherein this sin hath been this 46 Then Saul went up from

following the Philistines : and 39 For, as the LORD liveth, the Philistines went to their which saveth Israel, though it own place. be in Jonathan my son, he shall

47 So Saul took the kingdom surely die. But there was not over Israel, and fought against a man among all the people that all his enemies on every side, answered him.

against Moab, and against 40 Then said he unto all Isra- the children of Ammon, and el, Be ye on one side, and I and against Edom, and against the Jonathan my son will be on the kings of Zobah, and against the

day ;

VOL. II.

Philistines, and whithersoever | when he came up from Egypt. he turned himself, he vexed 3 Now go and smite Amalek, them.

and utterly destroy all that they 48 And he gathered an host, have, and spare them not; but and smote the Amalekites, and slay both man and woman, indelivered Israel out of the hands | fant and suckling, ox and sheep, of them that spoiled them. camel and ass.

49 Now the sons of Saul were 4 And Saul gathered the peoJonathan, and Ishui, and Mel-ple together, and numbered chi-shua ; and the names of his them in Telaim, two hundred two daughters were these ; the thousand footmen, and ten thou. name of the first-born Merab, sand men of Judah. and the name of the younger 5 And Saul came to a city of Michal :

Amalek, and laid wait in the 50 And the name of Saul's valley.

wife was Ahinoam, the daugh-6 And Saul said unto the Ke

ter of Ahimaaz: and the name nites, Go, depart, get you down of the captain of his host was from among the Amalekites, Abner the son of Ner, Saul's lest I destroy you with them : uncle.

for ye shewed kindness to all 51" And Kish was the father the children of Israel, when they of Saul; and Ner the father of came up out of Egypt. So the Abner was the son of Abiel. Kenites departed from among

52 And there was sore war the Amalekites. against the Philistines all the 7 And Saul smote the Amalek. days of Saul : and when Saul | ites from Havilah until thou saw any strong man, or any vali- comest to Shur, that is over ant man, he took him unto him. against Egypt.

8 And he took Agag the king CHAP. XV.

of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people

with the edge of the sword. SAMUEL also said unto 9 But Saul and the people Saul, The Lord sent me to spared Agag, and the best of anoint thee to be king over his the sheep, and of the oxen, and people, over Israel : now there- || of the fatlings, and the lambs, fore, hearken thou unto the voice and all that was good, and of the words of the Lord. would not utterly destroy them :

2 Thus saith the LORD of but every thing that was vile hosts, I remember that which and refuse, that they destroyed Amalek did to Israel, how he utterly. laid wait for him in the way, 10 Then came the word of

SAUL SPARETH AGAG.

the LORD unto Samuel, say- the LORD anointed thee king ing,

over Israel? 11 It repenteth me that I have 18 And the LORD sent thee set up Saul to be king : for he on a journey, and said, Go, and is turned back from following utterly destroy the sinners the me, and hath not performed my Amalekites, and fight against commandments. And it grieved them until they be consumed. Samuel ; and he cried unto the 19 Wherefore then didst thou Lord all night.

not obey the voice of the LORD, 12 And when Samuel rose but didst fly upon the spoil, and early to meet Saul in the morn- didst evil in the sight of the ing, it was told Samuel, saying, Lord? Saul came to Carmel, and, be- 20 And Saul said unto Samuhold, he set him up a place, and el, Yea, I have obeyed the voice is gone about, and passed on, of the LORD, and have gone the and gone down to Gilgal. way which the LORD sent me,

13 And Samuel came to Saul: and have brought Agag the king and Saul said unto him, Blessed of Amalek, and have utterly debe thou of the Lord: I have stroyed the Amalekites:

I performed the commandment of 21 But the people took of the the LORD.

spoil, sheep, and oxen, the chief 14 And Samuel said, What of the things which should have meaneth then this bleating of been utterly destroyed, to sathe sheep in mine ears, and the crifice unto the Lord thy God lowing of the oxen which I in Gilgal. hear?

22 And Samuel said, Hath 15 And Saul said, They have the Lord as great delight in brought them from the Amalek- burnt-offerings and sacrifices, ites : for the people spared the as in obeying the voice of the best of the sheep, and of the ox- LORD ? Behold, to obey is beten, to sacrifice unto the LORD ter than sacrifice, and to hearkthy God; and the rest we have en than the fat of rams. utterly destroyed.

23 For rebellion is as the sin 16 Then Samuel said unto of witchcraft, and stubbornness Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee is as iniquity and idolatry. Be. what the LORD hath said to me cause thou hast rejected the this night. And he said unto word of the LORD, he hath also him, Say on.

rejected thee from being king. 17 And Samuel said, When 24 And Saul said unto Samuthou wast little in thine ownel, I have sinned : for I have sight, wast thou not made the transgressed the commandment head of the tribes of Israel, and of the LORD, and thy words;

with me,

because I feared the people, 33 And Samuel said, As thy and obeyed their voice.

sword hath made women child25 Now, therefore, I pray thee, less, so shall thy mother be pardon my sin, and turn again childless among women. And

that I may worship the Samuel hewed Agag in pieces LORD.

before the Lord in Gilgal. 26 And Samuel said unto 34 Then Samuel went to RaSaul,, I will not return with mah ; and Saul went up to his thee : for thou hast rejected the house to Gibeah of Saul. word of the LORD, and the LORD 351 And Samuel came no more hath rejected thee from being to see Saul until the day of his king over Israel!

death: nevertheless, Samuel 27 And as Samuel turned mourned for Saul, and the about to go away, he laid hold LORD repented that he had upon the skirt of his mantle, made Saul king over Israel. and it rent. 28 And Samuel said unto him,

CHAP. XVI. · The Lord hath rent the king

SAMUEL ANOINTETH DAVID. dom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neigh

AND the LORD said unto bour of thine, that is better Samuel, How long wilt thou than thou,

mourn for Saul, seeing I have 29 And also the Strength of rejected him from reigning over Israel will not lie nor repent : Israel ? Fill thine horn with for he is not a man, that he oil, and go, I will send thee to should repent.

Jesse the Beth-lehemite : for I 30 Then he said, I have sin- have provided me a king among ned: yet honour me now, I || his sons. pray thee, before the elders of 2 And Samuel said, How can my people, and before Israel, I go? if Saul hear it, he will and turn again with me, that I kill me. And the LORD said, may worship the LORD thy Take an heifer with thee, and God.

say,

I am come to sacrifice to 31 So Samuel turned again af- the LORD: ter Saul; and Saul worshipped 3 And call Jesse to the sacri. the Lord.

fice, and I will shew thee what 32 Then said Samuel, Bring thou shalt do: and thou shalt ye hither to me Agag the king anoint unto me him whom I of the Amalekites. And Agagname unto thee. came unto him delicately. And 4 And Samuel did that which Agag said, Surely the bitter- the Lord spake, and came to ness of death is past.

Beth-lehem. And the elders of