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The 8th Chapter
When Samuel was old, he made his
sons judges over Israel. The name of his eldest son was Joel, and
the name of the second Abiath, which were judges in Bersabe.
Nevertheless his sons followed not his steps: but turned aside after
*lucre and took rewards, and perverted the right. Then all the
elders of Israel gathered them together and came to Samuel unto
Kamath and said unto him: behold, thou art old and thy sons follow
not thy ways. Now therefore make us a king to judge us, as all other
nations have. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, give
us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord
said unto Samuel, hear the voice of the people in all that they say
unto thee. For they have not cast thee away, but me: that I should
not reign over them. And as they have ever done (since I brought
them out of Egypt unto this day, and have forsaken me and served
other Gods) even so do they unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto
their voice: howbeit yet, testify unto them and show them the duty
of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the
words of the Lord unto the people that asked a king of him, and he
said: this shall be the *duty of the king that shall reign over you:
he will take your sons and put them to his chariots and make his
horsemen of them and they must run before his chariot, and will make
him captains of them over thousands and over fifties, and set them
to ear his ground, and to gather in his harvest, and to make
instruments of war and apparel for his chariots. And he will take
your daughters and make them the dressers of his ointments, and his
cooks and bakers. And he shall take the best of your fields, and of
your vineyards and of your olive trees, and give them to his
servants. And he shall take the tenth of your seed and of your
vines, and give it to his lords, and to his servants. And he shall
take the best of your menservants and maidservants and young men,
and of your asses, and do his work with them. And he shall take the
tenth of your sheep, and ye shall be his servants. And when ye cry
out at that time upon your king which ye shall have chosen you, the
Lord will not hear you at that day.
Nevertheless the people would not hear the voice of Samuel,
but did say: nay not so: But there shall be a king over us, and we
will be like all other nations. And our king shall judge us, and go
out before us and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words
of the people and rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. And the
Lord said to Samuel: hearken unto their voice and make them a king.
Then said Samuel unto the men of Israel: go every man to his city.
*lucre: unearned profit, shameful gain. *duty: as in burden, tax,
what he will require.
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The 9th Chapter
Now there was a man of Benjamin
named Cis the son of Abiel, the son of Zeroz. the son of Bechorath,
the son of Aphiah, the son of a man that was a Jeminite, a man of
might: the same had a son called Saul, a goodly young man, so that
among the children of Israel, there was none goodlier than he, and
was thereto from the shoulders upward higher than all the other
people. And it chanced that the Asses of this Cis Sauls father were
lost. Then said Cis to Saul his son: Take one of the lads with thee
and up and go seek the Asses. And they went through mount Ephraim
and through the land of Salisa, and found them not. Then they went
through the land of Salim, and there they were not. Then they went
also through the land of Jemini, and they found them not. Then when
they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the young man that
was with him: come let us return, lest my father leave caring for
the Asses, and take thought for us. And he answered him: behold
there is in this city a worshipful man of God, and all that he saith,
cometh to pass. Now then let us go thither: peradventure he shall
show us what way we may go. Then said Saul to his lad: if we go what
shall we bring the man? For our bread is all spent out of our
hampers and there is none other present to bring the man of God,
what have we? And the young man answered Saul again and said: I have
found about me the fourth part of a Sickle, that will we give the
man of God to tell us our way.
Before time in Israel when a man went to seek an answer of
God, thus wise he spake, come and let us go to the Sear. For he that
is now called a prophet, was in the old time called a Sear. Then
said Saul to his young man: well said of thee: come let us go. And
so they went unto the city where the man of God was. And as they
were going up into the city, they met with damsels that came out to
draw water, and said unto them: is there here a sear? And the
maidens answered them, yee: behold, he goeth before you. Make haste
now, for he came this day to the city, for the people must offer
this day in the hill. When ye be come into the city, so shall you
find him, before he go up to the hill to eat: for the people will
not eat until he come, because he must bless the offering. And then
eat they that be bidden to the feast. Now therefore get you up for
even now shall ye find him. And they went up into the city. And when
they were come into the midst of the city: behold, Samuel came out
against them, for to go up to the hill. But the Lord had told Samuel
a day before Saul came, saying: tomorrow this time I will send thee
a man out of the land of Benjamin, him shalt thou anoint 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 and their
cry is come unto me. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord answered him:
see, this is the man whom I spake to thee of. This same shall reign
over my people.
Then went Saul to Samuel in the middle of the gate, and said:
tell me I pray thee, where about the sears house is, and Samuel
answered Saul and said: I am the sear, go up before me unto the
hill, for ye shall eat with me to day. And tomorrow I will let thee
go early, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart, and as for
thine asses that were lost this day three days, care not for them,
for they are found. And moreover whose shall the beautiful things of
Israel be? belong they not unto thee, and unto all thy fathers
house? But Saul answered and said: am not I the son of a Jeminite of
the smallest tribe of Israel, and my kindred the least of all the
kindreds of the tribe of Benjamin, wherefore then speakest thou so
to me?
And Samuel took Saul and his lad and brought them into the
parlor and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were
bidden: which were upon a thirty persons. Then said Samuel unto the
cook: bring forth the portion which I gave thee, and of which I said
keep it with thee. And the cook took up the shoulder and brought it,
and set it before Saul. And Samuel said: behold, that which is left:
put it before thee and eat, for I kept it for thee of purpose, when
I called the people. And so Saul did eat with Samuel that day. And
when they were come down from the hill unto the city, Samuel
communed with Saul upon the top of the house: and they arose early.
And about the spring of the day Samuel called Saul upon the top of
the house saying: up that I may send thee away. And Saul arose. And
they went out at the doors both of them, both he and Samuel. And
when they were come almost out of the town, Samuel said to Saul: bid
the lad go before us, and he went, but stand thou still awhile even
now, that I may show thee what God sayeth.
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The 10th Chapter
And then Samuel took a box of
oil and poured it upon his head and kissed him and said: the Lord
hath anointed thee to be a captain over his inheritance. And now
when thou art departed from me, thou shalt meet two men by Rahels
sepulcher in the borders of Benjamin even at Zalezah. And they will
say unto thee, the asses which thou wentest to seek, are found see,
thy father hath left the care of the Asses and sorroweth for you
saying: what shall I do for my son? Then thou shalt go forth from
thence and shalt come to the oak of Thabor. And there shalt thou
meet three men going to God to Bethel: one carrying three kids: and
another carrying three leaves of bread: and the third carrying a
bottle of wine. And they will salute thee and give thee two leaves
of bread: which thou shalt receive of their hands. After that thou
shalt come to the hill of God, where the Philistines keep their
watch. And when thou art come thither to the city thou shalt meet a
company of prophets coming down from the hill, with a psalter, a
timbrel, a pipe, and a harp before them, and they prophesying. And
the spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy
with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And when these
signs are chanced thee, then do what thou hast to do, for God is
with thee. And thou shalt also go before me to Galgal. And behold I
will come unto thee to sacrifice burnt sacrifice and peace
offerings. Tarry for me seven days till I come to thee and show thee
what thou shalt do. And as soon as he had turned his shoulder to go
from Samuel, God gave him another manner of heart, and all those
tokens came to pass that same day. When they came to the hill:
behold the company of prophets met him, and the spirit of God came
upon him, and the prophesied among them. And all that knew him
before, when they saw that he prophesied among the prophets, they
said each to other: what is happened unto the son of Cis? Is Saul
also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered and
said: who is their father? And thereof sprang a proverb: what is
Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of
prophesying, he came to the hill. Sauls fathers brother said unto
him and his lad: whither went ye? And he answered: to seek the
asses, and when we saw that they were nowhere, we went to Samuel.
Then said Sauls uncle: tell me what Samuel said unto you? And Saul
answered his uncle: he told us that the asses were found. But of the
kingdom whereof Samuel spake told he him not. After that Samuel
called the people together unto the Lord to Mazphah and said unto
the children of Israel: thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought
you out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the
Egyptians, and out of the hands of all kingdoms that oppressed you.
And ye have this day cast away your God that help you out of all
your adversities and tribulations. And ye have said unto him, make a
king over us. Now therefore stand before the Lord by your tribes and
your thousands. And when Samuel had brought all the tribes of Israel
the tribe of Benjamin was caught. When he had brought the tribe of
Benjamin by their kindreds, the kindred of Metri was caught: and
Saul the son of Cis was caught. And they sought him: but he could
not be found. Then they asked the Lord further: whither the man
should come thither. And the Lord answered: behold, he hath hid
himself among the stuff. And they ran and fetched him thence. And
when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people
from the shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people: there
see ye whom the Lord hath chosen and how there is none like him
among all the company. And all the people shouted and said: God send
the king life.
Then Samuel told the people the duty of the kingdom, and wrote
it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord, and so sent all the
people away, every man to his house. And Saul also went home to
Gabaah. And there went with him an host, such as God hath touched
their hearts. But the children of unthriftiness said: how shall he
save us? and despised him and brought him not presents. And he made
as though he had not heard it.
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The 11th Chapter
Then Nahas the Ammonite came and
beseiged Jabes in Galaad. And all the people of Jabes said unto
Nahas: make a covenant with us and we will be thy servants. And
Nahas the Ammonite said: hereto will I make a covenant with you,
even to thrust out all your right eyes, that I may bring that shame
upon all Israel. Then said the elders of Jabes: give us seven days
respite that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel.
And then if there come no man to help us, we will come out to thee.
Then came the messengers to Gabaah where Saul dwelt, and told this
tidings in the ears of the people. And all the people lifted up
their voices and wept. And behold Saul came following his oxen out
of the field, and asked what ailed the people to weep. And they told
him the tidings of the men of Jabes. Then came the spirit of God
upon Saul, when he heard those tidings, and he was exceeding angry.
And 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 his oxen be served. Then the fear of the Lord fell upon the
people, and they came out as it had been but one man. And when they
were numbered in Bezek the children of Israel were three hundred
thousand, and the men of Juda thirty thousand. And they said unto
the messengers that came, so say unto the men of Jabes in Galaad:
tomorrow by that time the *son be hot, ye shall have help. And the
messengers came and showed the men of Jabes, and they were glad. And
then the men of Jabes said: tomorrow we will come out unto you, that
ye may do with us all that pleaseth you. And on the morrow Saul put
the people in three parts. And they came in upon the host in the
morning watch, and slew the Ammonites, until the heat of the day.
And they that remained, scattered: so that two of them were not left
together. Then said the people to Samuel: what are they that said:
shall Saul reign over us? bring them that we may slay them. But Saul
said: there shall no man die this day, for today the Lord hath saved
Israel.
Then said Samuel unto the people: come and let us go to Galgal,
and renew the kingdom there. And the people went to Galgal and made
Saul King there, before the Lord in Galgal. And there they offered
peace offerings before the Lord. And there Saul and all the people
rejoiced exceedingly.
*son: sonne, this is exactly the way it appears, else where in the
text is sun found as sunne.
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The 12th Chapter
Then said Samuel unto all
Israel: behold I have obeyed your voice in all that ye said unto me,
and have made you a King. And see your king walketh before you. But
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. Behold here I am:
answer me before the Lord and before his anointed, whose ox have I
taken, or whose Ass have I taken? whom have I done wrong to? or whom
have I *pilled? And of whose hand have I received any bribe, to
blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you again. And they
said thou hast done us no wrong, nor *pilled us, neither hast thou
taken ought of any mans hand. Then said he to them: the Lord is
witness unto you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have
found nought in my hands. And they answered: we are witnesses. Then
said Samuel unto the people it is the Lord that made Moses and
Aaron, and which brought your fathers out of Egypt. Now therefore
stand still, and let me reason with you before the Lord, of all the
righteousnesses of the Lord which he showed both you and your
fathers.
After that Jacob was come into Egypt, your fathers cried unto
the Lord, and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought your
fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
Neverthelater they forgot the Lord their God. And he sold them into
the hand of Sisara chief captain of Jabin king of Nazor, and into
the hands of the philistines and into the hands of the King of Moab,
which fought against them. Then they cried unto the Lord and said:
we have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and have served
Baalim and Astharoth. But now deliver us out of the hands of our
enemies and we will serve thee. And the Lord sent Jerobaal, Badan,
Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hands of your
enemies on every side, so that ye dwelled without fear. And for all
that when you saw that Nahas the king of the children of Ammon came
against you, ye said unto me: not so, a king shall reign over us,
when yet the Lord your God was your King. Now therefore behold the
King, whom ye have chosen and whom ye have desired: see, the Lord
hath given you a King, Oh that ye would fear the Lord and serve him
and hear his voice and not disobey the mouth of the Lord: and that
both ye and the King that reigneth over you would follow the Lord
your God. For if ye shall not hearken unto the voice of the Lord,
but shall disobey the Lords mouth: then shall the hand of the Lord
be upon you and on your fathers. Now also stand and see this great
thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: is it not now wheat
harvest. And yet for all that, I will call unto the Lord, and he
shall send thunder and rain. Wherefore perceive and understand: how
that your wickedness is great which ye have done in the sight of the
Lord in asking you a King. And when Samuel called unto the Lord, the
Lord sent thunder and rain the same day. And all the people feared
the Lord and Samuel exceedingly. Then said all the people unto
Samuel: pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die
not: for we have sinned in asking us a king, beside all the sins
that ever we did.
Then said Samuel unto the people: fear not. And though ye have
done all this wickedness yet depart not from the Lord in any case.
But serve him with all your hearts. Neither turn ye after vain
things which cannot deliver you, for they are but vanities. But the
Lord will not forsake his people, because of his great names sake:
because the Lord hath begun to make you his people. Moreover God
forbid that I should sin against the Lord in leaving praying for you
and to show you the good and right way. Only fear you the Lord and
serve him truly with all your hearts: for he hath done great things
for you. But and if ye shall do wickedly: then shall both ye and
your King thereto perish.
* pilled is to charge an excessive price for something, pilliage ie
"whatever the market will bare"
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The 13th Chapter
Saul was as a child of a year
old, when he began to reign. And when he had reigned two years over
Israel, he chose him three thousand men out of Israel. Two thousand
were with Saul in Machmas and mount Bethel, and a thousand with
Jonathas in Gabaah Benjamin. And the rest of the people he sent,
every man to his own house. And Jonathas slew the Philistines in an
hold they had in Gabaah, and it came to the Philistines ears. And
Saul caused the trumpet to be blown throughout all the land saying:
let the Hebrews hear. And all Israel heard say, how that Saul had
destroyed an hold of the Philistines, and how that Israel stank unto
the Philistines. And all the people cried after Saul to Galgal.
Then the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight
with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and Six thousand horsemen with
other people like the sand by the seas side in multitude and came up
and pitched in Michmas eastward from Bethaven. And when the men of
Israel saw themselves in a strait, and that the people were *acumbered,
they hid themselves in caves, in privy holes, in rocks, dens and
pits. And the Hebrews went over Jordan unto the land of Gad and
Galaad. But Saul was yet in Galgal, and all the people that followed
him were astounded. And he tarried seven days, as Samuel had
appointed. But Samuel came not to Galgal, and the people scattered
from him. Wherefore Saul said: bring burnt sacrifice to me and peace
offerings. And he offered burnt sacrifice. And as soon as he had
made an end of offering burnt offerings behold, Samuel came. And
Saul went against him, to Salute him. Then said Samuel to Saul: what
hast thou done? And Saul said, because I saw that the people
scattered from me, and yet thou camest not within the days appointed
and that the phlistines gathered themselves together to Machmas:
then said I, the Philistines shall come down upon me to Galgal,
before I have made supplication unto the Lord. And therefore I took
a courage with me and offered burnt offerings. Then said Samuel to
Saul: thou hast done foolishly and hast not kept the commandment of
the Lord thy God which he commanded thee. For at this time would the
lord have stablished thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy
kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a man after his
own heart, and hath commanded him to be a captain over his people:
because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. And
Samuel arose and gat him from Galgal to Gabaah Benjamin. And Saul
numbered the people that were found with him, about a six hundred
men. And Saul and Jonathas his son and the people that were found
with them, had their abiding in Gabaah Benjamin. But the Philistines
had pitched in Machmas. And there came out of the host of the
Philistines three companies, to destroy: one company turned unto the
way that leadeth to Ephrah unto the land of Sual. And another
company turned the way to Bethoron. And the third company turned to
the way of the coast that turneth to the valley of Zeboim toward the
wilderness. But there was no smith throughout the land of Israel.
For the Philistines thought that then the Hebrews might make them
swords or spears. And therefore must all Israel go down to the
Philistines, to mend every man his share, his mattock, his axe or
his sickle: as oft as the edges of the sickles, mattocks, dung
forks, and axes were blunt, and also to mend their goods. And so in
time of battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hands
of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathas: save for Saul
and Jonathas his son was there somewhat found. And the Garrison of
the Philistines came out and stood on the other side before Machmas.
*acumbered, (encumbered or "in"cumbered RN)
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Chapters 1-7
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