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The 14th Chapter
And it fell on a day, that
Jonathas the son of Saul said unto his young man that bare his
harness: come and let us go over to the watchmen of the Philistines
that are yonder on the other side, and told not his father. But Saul
tarried in the utmost part of Gabaah under a pomegranate tree, that
was in Magron, and the people that were with him were upon a six
hundred men. And Ahiah the son of Ahitob Ichabods brother, the son
of Phinehes, the son of Eli, was the Lords priest in Siloh and bare
an Ephod. But the people knew not that Jonathas was gone.
And in the way over by which Jonathas sought to go over unto
the garrison of the philistines, were there two sharp rocks, even
one on the one side, and the other one the other side: the one
called Bozez, and the other Seneh. And the one leaneth northward
toward Machmas, and the other southward toward Gabaah. Then said
Jonathas to the young man that bare his harness: come and let us go
over unto the standing of these uncircumcised, peradventure the Lord
will work with us: for the Lord is free to save with many or with
few. And his harness bearer said unto him do all that is in thine
heart: set thee forward: and see I am with thee, as thine heart
lusteth. Then said Jonathas: behold when we go over unto the men,
and show ourselves unto them: if they say on this wise to us: tarry
until we come to you, then we will stand still where we be and not
go up unto them. But and if they so say unto us: come up unto us,
then we will go up, for the Lord hath delivered them into our hands.
And this shall be a sign unto us. And when they had both showed
themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines
said: see, the Hebrews come out of the holes where they had hid
themselves in. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathas and his
harness bearer and said: come up to us, and we will show you a
thing. Then said Jonathas unto his harness bearer: come up after me,
for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel. And
Jonathas *clame upon hands and feet, and his harness bearer after
him. Then they fell before Jonathas: and his harness bearer slew
them after him. And that first slaughter which Jonathas and his
harness bearer made was upon a twenty men, within the compass as it
were about an half acre of land. And there was a fear in the host
that was in the field, and among all the people: insomuch that they
that kept the hold, and they that were gone to rob, were afraid
also: and the earth trembled and there was a fear sent of God. And
the watchmen of Saul in Gabaah Benjamin, saw. And behold, the people
scattered and ran hither and thither. Then said Saul unto the people
that was with him: number and see who is gone away from us. And when
they had told: behold, Jonathas and his harness bearer were not
there. And then Saul said unto Ahia: bring hither the ark of God.
For the ark of God was at the time with the children of Israel. And
while Saul talked unto the priest, the people that were in the host
of the philistines, ran more and more. And Saul said unto the
priest: withdraw thine hand. And Saul cried and all the people that
were with him, and went to battle. And behold every mans sword was
against his fellow, with a mighty great slaughter. Moreover the
Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, and were
come with them in all parts of the host, they turned to Israel that
was with Saul and Jonathas. And they also which had hid themselves
in mount Ephraim, as soon as they heard how that the Philistines
were fled, they followed after them in battle. And so God help
Israel that day. And the battle continued until they came unto
Bethaven.
And the men of Israel joined themselves together that day: and
Saul adjured the people saying: Cursed be he that eateth any food
until night, that I may be avenged of mine enemies. And so there was
none of the people that tasted any sustenance. And all the land came
to a wood where honey lay upon the ground. And when the people were
come into the wood: Behold, the honey dropped. How be it there was
no man that moved his hand to his mouth, because that the people
feared the curse. But Jonathas heard not when his father adjured the
people, wherefore he put forth the end of the staff that was in his
hand, and dipped it in an honey comb, and put his hand to his mouth,
and his eyes received sight. Then spake one of the people and said:
thy father adjured the people saying: Cursed be the man that eateth
any sustenance this day, and yet the people were fainty. Then said
Jonathas: my father hath troubled the land: for see, mine eyes hath
received sight, because I tasted a little of this honey: how then if
all the people had eaten of the spoil of their enemies which they
found, had there not been then a much greater slaughter among the
Philistines? And they laid on the Philistines that day, from Machmas
to Aialon. And the people were exceeding fainty.
Then the people gat them to the spoil and took sheep oxen and
calves, and slew them on the ground and did eat with the blood. Then
men told Saul saying: Behold the people sin against the Lord, in
that they eat with the blood. And he said: ye have trespassed. But
roll a great stone unto me now, and go abroad among the people and
bid them bring every man his ox and every man his sheep, and slay
them here, and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood.
And the people brought every man his ox in his hand by night and
slew them there. And Saul made an altar unto the Lord. And that was
the first altar that he made unto the Lord. And Saul said: let us go
down after the Philistines by night, and let us make havoc among
them until it be day in the morning, and let us not leave one of
them. And the people answered: do whatsoever thou thinkest best.
Then said the priest: let us come hither unto God. And Saul asked of
God: shall I go down after the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver
them into mine hands? But he answered him not at that time. Then
said Saul let the people come hither out of all quarters, and know
and see, in whom this sin is chanced this day: for as truly as the
Lord liveth which hath saved Israel, though it be in Jonathas my
son, he shall die for it. But no man answered him of all the people.
Then he said unto all Israel: be ye on one side, and I and
Jonathas my son will be on another. And the people said unto Saul:
what thou thinkest best that do. And Saul said unto the Lord God of
Israel: give perfect knowledge. And Saul and Jonathas were caught,
and the people escaped free. Then said Saul: cast lots between me
and Jonathas my son. And Jonathas was caught. Then Saul said to
Jonathas: tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathas told him and
said: I tasted a little honey upon the end of my staff that was in
mine hand, and see, I must die.
Then said Saul God do so and so to me, except that thou die
Jonathas. But the people said unto Saul: shall Jonathas die which
hath so mightily help Israel? God forbid. As truly as the Lord
liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground: for
he hath wrought with God this day. And so the people delivered
Jonathas, that he died not. And then Saul departed from following
the Philistines. And the Philistines went to their own place. And so
Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his
enemies on every side: against the Moabites: against the children of
Ammon: against the Edomites: against the kings of Zobah and against
the Philistines. And whether so ever he turned himself, there he
won, and played the man and slew the Amalekites, and rid Israel out
of the hands of them that spoiled them. The sons of Saul were,
Jonathas, Jesui, and Melchisua. And his two daughters were thus
named: the elder was called Merob and the younger Michol. And the
name of Sauls wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name
of his chief captain was Abner the son of Ner Sauls uncle. And Cis
was Sauls father. And Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
And there was sore war with the Philistines, all the days of Saul.
For wheresoever Saul saw a strong man, and an active, he took him
unto him.
*clame (climbed)
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The 15th Chapter
Then said Samuel unto Saul: the
Lord sent me to anoint thee King over his people Israel. Now
therefore obey thou the voice of the words of the Lord. Thus saith
the Lord of hosts: I have called to remembrance that which Amalek
did to Israel how they lay in wait for them in the way, as they came
out of Egypt. Now therefore go and smite the Amalekites, and only
destroy ye all that pertaineth unto them, and see thou have no
compassion on them. But slay both man and woman, infant and
suckling, and ox, sheep, camel and Ass.
And Saul told it the people, and numbered them in Telaim two
hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Juda. And Saul
came unto a city of the Amalekites, and fought in a valley. But Saul
said unto the Kenites go and depart and get you down from among the
Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, for ye showed mercy with
Israel when they came out of Egypt. And the Kenites departed from
among the Amalekites.
And Saul slew the Amalekites from Hevila to Sur that lieth
before Egypt, and took Agag the King of the Amalekites alive, and
utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But
Saul and the people spared Agag, and they left of the sheep and of
the oxen and fat things and the lambs and all that was good, and
would not destroy them. But all that was nought worth and *flaggy,
that they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the Lord unto
Samuel saying: it repenteth me that I have made Saul king. For he is
turned from me and hath not performed my commandments, wherefore
Samuel was evil *apaid and cried unto the Lord all night. And Samuel
rose early, to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel that
Saul was come to Carmel, and had set him up a pillar of triumph. And
was turned and departed and gone to Galgal.
And when Samuel was come to Saul, Saul said unto him: Blessed
be thou in the Lord. I have done the commandment of the Lord. And
Samuel answered: what meaneth then the bleating of the sheep in mine
ears, and the noise of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said: they
have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people spared the
best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy
God. And the remnant we have destroyed.
But Samuel said to Saul: cease and let me tell thee what the
Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him: say on. And
Samuel said when thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not
made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed thee
King over Israel. And then the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said
unto thee, see that thou utterly destroy those sinners, the
Amalekites and fight against them until ye have utterly destroyed
them. And wherefore hast thou now not obeyed the voice of the Lord:
But didst turn to the prey and hast wrought wickedness in the sight
of the Lord?
And Saul said unto Samuel: I have obeyed the voice of the
Lord, and went the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag
the King of the Amalekites. And have utterly destroyed the
Amalekites. And the people took of the spoil, sheep, oxen, and the
chiefest of the things which should have been destroyed, to offer
unto the Lord thy God in Galgal. Then said Samuel: hath the Lord as
great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings, as he hath that
thou shouldest obey his voice? Behold, to obey is better than
offering, and to give heed is better than the fat of rams. For
rebelliousness is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is
wickedness and Idolatry. Because therefore thou hast cast away the
word of the Lord, therefore hath the Lord cast away thee also, from
being King.
Then said Saul to Samuel: I have sinned for I have trespassed
the mouth of the Lord, and thy words, because I feared the people
and obeyed their voice. But now take away my sin, and turn again
with me, that I may worship the Lord. Then said Samuel unto Saul: I
will not return with thee: for thou hast cast away the bidding of
God, and therefore the Lord hath cast away thee also, that thou
shalt not be King over Israel. And as Samuel turned to go away, he
caught the lap of his coat, and it rent. Then Samuel said, the Lord
hath rent the Kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given
it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou. And thereto he
that giveth victory to Israel, will not beguile nor repent: for he
is not a man, that can repent.
Then he said: I have sinned. But yet honour me before the
elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that
I may pray unto the Lord thy God. And Samuel turned again and
followed Saul. And Saul prayed unto the Lord. Then said Samuel:
Bring ye hither to me, Agag the King of the Amalekites. And Agag
came unto him delicately. And Agag said: truly the bitterness of
death cometh on. And Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women
childless, so shall thy mother be childless among other women. And
so Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Galgal. And then
Samuel departed to Ramath. And Saul went home to his house to Gabaah
Saul. But Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his
death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, because the Lord
repented that he had made him King over Israel.
*flaggy: tattered, not firm. *apaid: as in paid a visit
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The 16th Chapter
And then the
Lord said unto Samuel: How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I
have cast him away from reigning over Israel? fill an horn with
ointment, and come: I will send thee to Isai the Bethlehemite, for I
have spied me a King among his sons. But Samuel answered: how shall
I go? for Saul shall hear it and will kill me. And the Lord said:
Take an heifer with thee, and say thou goest to offer to the Lord.
And call Isai to the offering, and I will show thee what thou shalt
do: And thou shalt anoint him whom I say unto thee. And Samuel did
as the Lord bade him. And when he came to Bethlehem, the elders of
the town were astonied at his coming, and said: Betokeneth thy
coming peace? and he said yee, for I am come to offer unto the Lord.
Cleanse yourselves and come with me to the offering. And he purified
Isai and his sons, and bade them to the offering. And when they were
come, he looked on Eliab and said: the Lords anointed is before him.
But the Lord said unto Samuel: look not on his fashion nor on the
height of his stature, for I have refused him. Because it is not as
man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance: but the Lord
beholdeth the heart. Then Isai called Abinadab and made him come
before Samuel. And he said: neither hath the Lord chosen this. Then
Isai made Samah come, and he said: neither hath the Lord chosen him.
Then made Isai seven of his sons come before Samuel. And Samuel
said, the Lord hath chosen none of these.
Then said Samuel to Isai: are here all thy children? and he
said: the youngest is yet behind: Behold, he keepeth the sheep. Then
Samuel said unto Isai: send and fetch him for we will not sit down,
till he be come hither. And he sent and brought him in. And he was
brown with goodly eyes, and well favoured in sight. And then the
Lord said up and anoint him: for this is he. And Samuel took the
horn with the ointment and anointed him in the presence of his
brethren. And the spirit of the Lord came upon David, from that day
forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramath.
But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil
spirit sent of the Lord, vexed him. Then said his servants unto him:
Behold, an evil spirit sent of God vexeth thee, let our Lord
therefore command his servants to seek a man that is a cunning
player with an harp. And then when the evil spirit sent of God,
cometh upon thee, that he may play with his hand, and thou shalt be
eased. And Saul said unto his servants: seek me a man that can well
play, and bring him to me. Then answered one of his servants and
said: Behold, I have seen a son of Isai the Bethelehemite, that can
play upon instruments, and is an active fellow and a man of war and
prudent and well made, and the Lord is with him, whereupon Saul sent
messengers unto Isai and said: send me David thy son which is with
the sheep. And Isai took an ass laden with bread, and a flacket of
wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David
went to Saul and came before him, and he loved him very well, so
that he was made his harness bearer. And Saul sent to Isai saying:
let David remain with me, for he hath found favour in my sight. And
when the spirit of God came upon Saul, David took an harp and played
with his hand, and so Saul was refreshed, and did amend and the evil
spirit departed from him.
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The 17th Chapter
The Philistines gathered their
host to battle, and came together to Socoh in Juda, and pitched
between Socoh and Azekah, in the end of Domim. And Saul and the men
of Israel came and pitched in Oakdale and put themselves in array,
to fight against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on an
hill on the one side, and Israel stood on an hill on the other side,
and a valley between them. And then came a man and stood in the
midst, out of the tents of the Philistines named Goliath of Geth,
six cubits and a *handbreadth long, and had an helmet of brass upon
his head, and a coat of mail about him. And the weight of his coat
of mail was five thousand *Cickles, of brass. And he had harness of
brass upon his legs, and a shield of brass upon his shoulders. And
the shaft of his spear was like a weavers beam. And his spearhead
weighed six hundred *sickles of iron. And one bearing a shield went
before him.
And he stood and called unto the host of Israel, and said
unto them: what needeth that ye should come out in array to battle?
am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? Choose you a man,
and let him come down to me, if he be able to fight with me and to
beat me, then we will be your servants. But if I can overcome him
and beat him: then ye shall be our servants and serve us. And the
Philistine said: I have defied the host of Israel this day give me a
man and let us fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those
words of the Philistine, they were discouraged and greatly afraid.
And this David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem Juda, named
Isai, which Isai had eight sons. And was an old man in the days of
Saul among the people. And the three eldest sons of Isai went and
followed Saul to battle. And the names of his three sons that went
to battle were: Eliab the eldest, and the next to him Abinadab, and
the third Samah, and David was the youngest. And when the three
eldest were gone after Saul, David went and departed from Saul, to
feed his fathers sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine came forth
every morning and evening, and continued forty days.
And Isai said unto David his son: take for thy brethren this
Epha of parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the host, to
thy brethren. And carry these ten fresh cheeses unto the captain,
and look how thy brethren fare, and set out their pledges. And Saul
and they and all the men of Israel were in oak valley fighting with
the Philistines. And David rose up early in the morning and left the
sheep with a keeper, and took and went, as Isai had commanded him,
and came where the host lay. And the host was going out in array,
and shouted in the battle: for Israel and the Philistines had put
themselves in array, the one against the other. Then David put the
pannier from him, unto the hands of the keeper of the vessels, and
ran into the host and came and saluted his brethren. And as he
talked with them: Behold, there stood a man in the midst, Goliath
the Philistine by name, of Geth, which came out of the Array of the
Philistines, and spake of the manner above rehearsed, that David
heard it. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, ran away
from him, and were sore afraid. And every man of Israel said: See ye
this man that is come forth, even to revile Israel is he come. And
to him that beateth him will the king give great riches, and will
give him his daughter thereto: yea and make his fathers house free
in Israel.
Then spake David to the men that stood by and said: What shall
be done to the man that beateth this Philistine and taketh away the
shame from Israel? for what is this uncircumcised Philistine, that
he should revile the host of the living God? And the people answered
as it is rehearsed saying: so shall it be done to the man that
beateth him. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto
the man and was angry with David and said: Why camest thou away, and
with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know
thy pride and the malice of thine heart, that thou art come to see
the battle. And David answered, what have I now done? is there any
more save a word? And departed from by him into another front, and
spake of the same manner, and the people answered him again, as
before.
And they that heard the words which David spake, rehearsed
them before Saul, which caused him to be fetched. And David said to
Saul: Let no mans heart fail him because of him. Thy servant will go
and fight with his Philistine. And Saul said to David again, thou
art not able to go unto this Philistine, to fight with him. For thou
art but a lad, and he hath been a man of war even from his youth.
Then said David unto Saul, as thy servant kept his fathers sheep,
there came a Lion and likewise a Bear, and took a sheep out of the
flock. And I went out after him and smote him, and took it out of
his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by the beard
and smote him and slew him. For both a Lion and also a Bear hath thy
servant slain. And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of
them, for his railing on the host of the living God. And David spake
moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of the hands of the Lion
and out of the hands of the Bear, he shall deliver me also out of
the hands of the Philistine.
Then said Saul to David go, and the Lord be with thee. And
Saul put his raiment upon David, and put an helmet of brass upon his
head, and put a coat of mail upon him, and girt David with his own
sword upon his raiment. And he assayed to go, for he never proved
it. Then said David unto Saul: I cannot go in these, for I have not
been used thereto, and put them off him and took his staff in his
hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of a brook and put them
in a shepherds bag which he had, and in a poke, and his sling in his
hand, and went to the Philistine.
And the Philistine came and drew near to David, with the man
that bare a shield before him. And when the Philistine looked and
saw David: he disdained him, for he was but a lad, ruddy and goodly
to look upon. And the Philistine said unto David: am I a dog, that
thou comest to me with a staff? and he cursed David in the name of
his Gods. And he said to David: come to me and I will give thy flesh
unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said
David to the Philistine thou comest to me with a sword a spear and a
shield: But I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God
of the host of Israel whom thou hast railed upon. This day shall the
Lord deliver thee into my hand, and I shall smite thee and take
thine head from thee, and will give the carcasses of the host of the
Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the beasts of
the earth, and all the world shall know, that there is a God in
Israel. And all this congregation shall know, that the Lord saveth
not with the sword and spear. For the battle is the Lords, and he
shall give you into our hands.
And when the Philistine arose and came and drew nigh unto
David: David hasted and ran in array even against the Philistine.
And David put his hand in his poke and took out a stone and slung
it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead that the stone sunk
into his forehead, and he fell grovelling to the earth. And so David
overcame the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and smote the
Philistine and slew him. And because David had no sword in his hand,
he ran and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it
out of his sheath and slew him and cut off his head therewith. And
when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
And the men of Israel and of Juda arose and shouted and followed
after the Philistines, until they came to the valley and unto the
gates of Akaron. And the Philistines fell down dead by the way, even
unto Geth and Akaron. And then the children of Israel returned from
chasing after the Philistines and robbed their tents. And David took
the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem: But he put
his armor in his tent. When Saul saw David go forth against the
Philistine, he said unto Abner the captain of his host, Abner, whose
son is this lad? And Abner answered, as truly as thy soul liveth, O
king, I cannot tell. Then said the king: Enquire thou, whose son the
youngling is. And so when David was returned from the slaughter of
the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the
head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him: whose son
art thou, thou lad? And David answered the son of thy servant Isai
the Bethlehemite.
*handbreadth long, (just over 9') *Cickle or sickle (5000= nearly
160 lbs, six hundred *sickles (nearly 20 lbs.) : "modern" Hebrew
scale of measurement : shekel = about 1/2 oz it is nevertheless
possible that ancient measurements were based on "giants" and their
physical stature, for gaints ruled the land as it is recorded;
making then these sizes and weights much larger.
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Chapters 1-7
| 8-13
| 14-17
| 18-24
| 25-end
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