Chapter 2

09:006:007 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

09:006:008 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

09:006:009 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he 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.

09:006:010 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:

09:006:011 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

09:006:012 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.

09:006:013 And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

09:006:014 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.

09:006:015 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.

09:006:016 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

09:006:017 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

09:006:018 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

09:006:019 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

09:006:020 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

09:006:021 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

09:007:001 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

09:007:002 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

09:007:003 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

09:007:004 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

09:007:005 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

09:007:006 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and 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.

09:007:007 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.

09:007:008 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

09:007:009 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

09:007:010 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.

09:007:011 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

09:007:012 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

09:007:013 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.

09:007:014 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.

09:007:015 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

09:007:016 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

09:007:017 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.

09:008:001 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

09:008:002 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

09:008:003 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

09:008:004 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

09:008:005 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

09:008:006 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

09:008:007 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.

09:008:008 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.

09:008:009 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

09:008:010 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

09:008:011 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.

09:008:012 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.

09:008:013 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

09:008:014 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

09:008:015 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

09:008:016 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

09:008:017 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

09:008:018 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.

09:008:019 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

09:008:020 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.

09:008:021 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

09:008:022 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.

09:009:001 Now there was a man of Benjamin, 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 power.

09:009:002 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

09:009:003 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.

09:009:004 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.

09:009:005 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.

09:009:006 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

09:009:007 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?

09:009:008 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.

09:009:009 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire 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.)

09:009:010 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

09:009:011 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?

09:009:012 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:

09:009:013 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.

09:009:014 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.

09:009:015 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

09:009:016 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

09:009:017 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

09:009:018 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

09:009:019 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.

09:009:020 And as for thine asses that were lost 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?

09:009:021 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?

09:009:022 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.

09:009:023 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

09:009:024 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: 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.

09:009:025 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

09:009:026 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.

09:009:027 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 a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

09:010:001 Then 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?

09:010:002 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?

09:010:003 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

09:010:004 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.

09:010:005 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:

09:010:006 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

09:010:007 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.

09:010:008 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 shew thee what thou shalt do.

09:010:009 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.

09:010:010 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

09:010:011 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?

09:010:012 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?

09:010:013 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

09:010:014 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.

09:010:015 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

09:010:016 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.

09:010:017 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;

09:010:018 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:

09:010:019 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.

09:010:020 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

09:010:021 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.

09:010:022 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.

09:010:023 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.

09:010:024 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, God save the king.

09:010:025 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.

09:010:026 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

09:010:027 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought no presents. But he held his peace.

09:011:001 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

09:011:002 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.

09:011:003 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, 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.

09:011:004 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

09:011:005 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.

09:011:006 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

09:011:007 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever 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 with one consent.

09:011:008 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

09:011:009 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

09:011:010 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

09:011:011 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, 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.