the first book of Samuel otherwise
known as the first book of the Kings chapter 1 Now there was
a certain man of Ramathame Zophim of Mount Ephraim, and his name
was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of
Tohu, the son of Zaph, an Ephrathite. And he had two wives. The name
of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. And
Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man
went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto
the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni
and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And when
the time was that Alcana offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife
and to all her sons and her daughters portions. But unto Hannah he
gave a worthy portion, for he loved Hannah. But the Lord had
shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked
her sore for to make her fret because the Lord had shut up
her womb. And as he did so year by year when she went up to the
house of the Lord, so she provoked her. Therefore she wept and did
not eat. Then said Alcana, her husband,
to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? And why eatest thou not, and
why is thy heart grieved? Am I not better to thee than
ten sons?' So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh,
and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a
seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. And she was in bitterness
of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she
vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed
look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and
not forget thine handmaid, but will give unto thine handmaid
a man-child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days
of his life. And there shall no razor come
upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued
praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah,
she spake in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice
was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she had
been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long
wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee.
And Hannah answered and said, No, my Lord. I am a woman of
a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor
strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
Count not thine hand made for a daughter of Belial, for out
of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace, and the God of Israel
grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she
said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman
went her way and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
And they rose up in the morning early and worshipped before the
Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. And
Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after
Hannah had conceived, that she bear a son, and called his name
Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. And the
man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer unto the Lord
the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah went not up,
for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child
be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before
the Lord, and there abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband
said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good, tarry until thou have
weaned him, only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode,
and gave her son Succ until she weaned him. And when she had
weaned him, she took him up with her with three bullocks, and
one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto
the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. And
they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said,
O my Lord, as thy soul liveth, my Lord, I am the woman that
stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed,
and the Lord hath given me my petition, which I asked of him.
therefore also I have lent him to the Lord as long as he liveth
he shall be lent to the Lord and he worshipped the Lord there 1st Samuel chapter 2 and Hannah
prayed and said My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted
in the Lord, mine mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I
rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord,
for there is none beside thee, neither is there any rock like
our God. Talk no more, so exceeding proudly,
Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth, For the Lord is a
God of knowledge, And by Him actions are weighed. The bows
of the mighty men are broken, And they that stumble are girded
with strength. They that were full have hired
out themselves for bread, and they that were hungry ceased,
so that the baron hath borne seven, and she that hath many
children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth and maketh alive. He bringeth down to the grave,
and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh
rich. He bringeth low, and lifteth
up. He raiseth up the poor out of
the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to
set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne
of glory. For the pillars of the earth
are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will
keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent
in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries
of the Lord shall be broken to pieces, out of heaven shall he
thunder upon them. The Lord shall judge the ends
of the earth, and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt
the horn of his anointed. And Alcana went to Ramah to his
house. And the child did minister unto
the Lord before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were sons
of Belial. They knew not the Lord. And the
priest's custom with the people was that when any man offered
sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in
seething, with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand. And
he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot,
all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself.
So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came and
said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest,
for he will not have sodden flesh of thee but raw. And if any man
said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and
then take as much as thy soul desireth, then he would answer
him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now, and if not, I will
take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young
man was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering
of the Lord. But Samuel ministered before
the Lord, being a child girded with a linen ephod. Moreover,
his mother made him a little coat and brought it to him from
year to year when she came up with her husband to offer the
yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his
wife and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the
loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own
home. And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore
three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before
the Lord. Now Eli was very old, and heard
all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with
the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation. And he said unto them, Why do
ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings
by all this people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good
report that I hear. Ye make the Lord's people to
transgress. If one man sin against another,
the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the
Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened
not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.
And the child Samuel grew on and was in favor both with the
Lord and also with men. And there came a man of God unto
Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, did I plainly
appear unto the house of thy father when they were in Egypt
in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all
the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar,
to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And did I give unto
the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the
children of Israel? Wherefore, kick ye at my sacrifice,
and at mine offering which I have commanded in my habitation, and
honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the
chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore,
the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house,
and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever.
But now, the Lord saith, be it far from me, for them that honor
me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days come that I
will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy father's house, that
there shall not be an old man in thine house, and thou shalt
see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall
give Israel. and there shall not be an old
man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine, whom I
shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes,
and to grieve thine heart, and all the increase of thine house
shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign
unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phineas,
in one day they shall die, both of them. And I will raise me
up a faithful priest that shall do according to that which is
in mine heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house,
and he shall walk before mine anointed forever. And it shall
come to pass that every one that is left in thine house shall
come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread,
and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priest's
offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. 1 Samuel chapter 3. And the child
Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the
Lord was precious in those days. There was no open vision. And
it came to pass at that time when Eli was laid down in his
place and his eyes began to wax dim that he could not see. And
ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where
the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, that
the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, Here am I. And
he ran unto Eli and said, Here am I, for thou callest me. And
he said, I called not, lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again.
Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to
Eli, and said, Here am I, for thou didst call me. And he answered,
I called not, my son. Lie down again. Now Samuel did
not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet
revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again
the third time, and he arose and went to Eli and said, Here
am I, for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord
had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel,
Go, lie down, and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt
say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay
down in his place. And the Lord came and stood and
called, as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered,
Speak, for thy servant heareth. And the Lord said to Samuel,
Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears
of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will
perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning
his house. When I begin, I will also make an end. For I have
told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity
which he knoweth, because his sons made themselves vile, and
he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto
the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged
with sacrifice nor offering forever. And Samuel lay until the morning
and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared
to show Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel and said,
Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. And
he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee?
I pray thee, hide it not from me. God do so to thee, and more
also if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he
said unto thee. And Samuel told him every wit, and hid nothing
from him. And he said, It is the Lord. Let him do what seemeth him good.
And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none
of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel, from Dan even
to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet
of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again in
Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by
the word of the Lord. 1 Samuel chapter 4 And the word
of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the
Philistines to battle and pitched beside Ebenezer. And the Philistines
pitched in Aphek. And the Philistines put themselves
in array against Israel. And when they joined battle,
Israel was smitten before the Philistines. And they slew of
the army in the field about 4,000 men. And when the people were
come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath
the Lord smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch
the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that,
when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our
enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring
from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth
between the cherubims. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni,
and Phinehas were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp,
all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang
again. And when the Philistines heard
the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise
of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood
that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp. And the Philistines
were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. Woe unto
us, for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. Woe unto
us, who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods?
These are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues
in the wilderness. Be strong, and quit yourselves
like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews,
as they have been to you. Quit yourselves like men, and
fight. And the Philistines fought, and
Israel was smitten. And they fled every man into
his tent. And there was a very great slaughter,
for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark
of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
were slain. And there ran a man of Benjamin
out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his
clothes rent and with earth upon his head. And when he came low,
Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled
for the ark of God. When the man came into the city
and told it, all the city cried out. And when Eli heard the noise
of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult?
And the man came in hastily and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety
and eight years old, and his eyes were dim that he could not
see. And the man said unto Eli, I
am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.
And he said, What is there done, my son? And the messenger answered
and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines. and there hath
been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons
also, Hophni and Phineas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he
made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat
backward by the side of the gate, and his neck break. And he died,
for he was an old man and heavy, and he had judged Israel forty
years. And his daughter-in-law, Phineas's
wife, was with child, near to be delivered. And when she heard
the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law
and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed,
for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death
the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not, for thou
hast born a son. But she answered not, neither
did she regard it. And she named the child Ichabod,
saying, The glory is departed from Israel, because the ark
of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her
husband. And she said, The glory is departed
from Israel, for the ark of God is taken. 1 Samuel chapter 5 And the Philistines took the
ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. When the
Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house
of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when day of Ashdod arose
early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face
to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon
and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on
the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the
ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and
both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold. Only
the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests
of Dagon nor any that come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold
of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. But the hand of the Lord
was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and smote
them with emeralds, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. And when
the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of
the God of Israel shall not abide with us, for his hand is sore
upon us and upon Dagon our God. They sent, therefore, and gathered
all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall
we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered,
Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And
they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. And
it was so that after they had carried it about, the hand of
the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction.
And he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they
had emeralds in their secret parts. Therefore, they sent the
ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark
of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying,
They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us to
slay us and our people. So they sent, and gathered together
all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of
the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that
it slay us not, and our people. For there was a deadly destruction
throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy
there. And the men that died not were
smitten with the emeralds. And the cry of the city went
up to heaven. 1 Samuel chapter 6 And the ark of the Lord was in
the country of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines
called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall
we do to the ark of the Lord? tell us wherewith we shall send
it to his place. And they said, If ye send away
the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty, but in any
wise return him a trespass offering. Then ye shall be healed, and
it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from
you. Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which
we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emeralds,
and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of
the Philistines. For one plague was on you all, and on your lords. Wherefore ye shall make images
of your emeralds, and images of your mice that mar the land.
And ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel. Peradventure
he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods,
and from off your land. Wherefore then do ye harden your
hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts,
when he had wrought wonderfully among them? Did they not let
the people go, and they departed? 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. 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, 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. And the men did
so, and took two milch kyne, and tied them to the cart, and
shut up their calves at home. And they laid the ark of the
Lord upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold, and the
images of their emeralds. And the kyne took the straight
way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway lowing
as they went, and turned not a side to the right hand or to
the left. And the lords of the Philistines
went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh. 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. And the
ark came into the field of Joshua of Bethshemite, and stood there,
where there was a great stone. And they claved the wood of the
cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the Lord. 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. And when the five lords of the
Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. And these are the golden emeralds
which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto
the Lord. For Ashdod, one, for Gaza, one, for Ascalon, one,
for Gath, one, for Ekron, one. 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. 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. 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? And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-Jerim,
saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the
Lord. Come ye down, and fetch it up to you. 1 Samuel chapter 7 And the men
of Kirjath-Jerim came and fetched up the ark of the Lord and brought
it into the house of Abinadab in the hill and sanctified Eliezer
his son to keep the ark of the Lord. And it came to pass while
the ark abode in Kirjath-Jerim that the time was long for it
was twenty years and all the house of Israel lamented after
the Lord. 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 Ashtoreth
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.
Then the children of Israel did put away Balaam and Ashtoreth,
and served the Lord only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel
to Mizpi, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. And they gathered
together to Mizpi, 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 Mizpi. And when the Philistines heard
that the children of Israel were gathered together to misbe, the
lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the
children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
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. 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. 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 discomforted
them, and they were smitten before Israel. And the men of Israel
went out of Mizpi, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them,
until they came under Bethke. Then Samuel took a stone, and
set it between Mizpi and Shenn, and called the name of it Ebenezer,
saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 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. 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. and Samuel judged Israel all
the days of his life and he went from year to year in circuit
to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpi and judged Israel in all those
places 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 1 Samuel chapter 16 And the LORD
said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I
have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn
with oil, and go. I will send thee to Jesse the
Bethlehemite, for I have provided me a king among his sons. And
Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill
me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I
am come to sacrifice to the Lord. And call Jesse to the sacrifice,
and I will show thee what thou shalt do. And thou shalt anoint
unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which
the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled
at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said,
Peaceably. I am come to sacrifice unto the
Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.
And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the
sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they
were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's
anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel,
Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature,
because I have refused him. For the Lord seeth not as man
seeth. For man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called
Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither
hath the Lord chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass
by. And he said, Neither hath the
Lord chosen this. Again Jesse made seven of his
sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The
Lord hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are
here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth
yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel
said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down
till he come hither. And he sent and brought him in.
Now he was ruddy and with all of a beautiful countenance and
goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint
him, for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of
oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the Spirit
of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose
up and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the Lord departed
from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And
Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from
God troubleth thee. Let our Lord now command thy
servants which are before thee to seek out a man who is a cunning
player on an harp, and it shall come to pass when the evil spirit
from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and
thou shalt be well. And Saul said unto his servants,
Provide me now a man that can play well and bring him to me
then answered one of the servants and said Behold I have seen a
son of Jesse the Bethlehemite that is cunning in playing and
a mighty valiant man and a man of war and Prudent in matters
and a comely person and the Lord is with him wherefore Saul sent
messengers unto Jesse and said Send me David thy son, which
is with the sheep And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and
a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son
unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood
before him, and he loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying,
Let David, I pray thee, stand before me, for he hath found
favor in my sight. And it came to pass when the
evil spirit from God was upon Saul that David took a harp and
played with his hand so Saul was refreshed and was well and
the evil spirit departed from him 1st Samuel chapter 17 Now the Philistines gathered
together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at
Shoko, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shoko and
Azekar in Ephestimim. And Saul and the men of Israel
were gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set
the battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines
stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain
on the other side, and there was a valley between them. And
there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines,
named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had a helmet of brass
upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the
weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had
greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between
his shoulders, and the staff of his spear was like a weaver's
beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron,
and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and
cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, why are ye
come out to set your battle in array? I'm not I a philistine
and ye servants to Saul choose you a man for you and let him
come down to me if he be able to fight with me and to kill
me then will we be your servants but if I prevail against him
and kill him then shall he be our servants and serve us and
the philistine said I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give
me a man that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard
those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly
afraid. Now David was the son of that
Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah whose name was Jesse, and he
had eight sons. And the man went among men for
an old man in the days of Saul. And the three eldest sons of
Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle. And the names
of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn,
and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David
was the youngest, and the three eldest followed Saul. But David
went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. And the Philistine drew near
morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. And Jesse
said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah
of this parched corn and these ten loaves, and run to the camp
to thy brethren, and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain
of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their
pledge. now Saul and they and all the
men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the
morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took and went as
Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the trench, as
the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array,
army against army. And David left his carriage in
the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army,
and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold,
there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by
name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according
to the same words. And David heard them. And all
the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and
were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, have
you seen this man that has come up? Surely to defy Israel is
he come up. And it shall be that the man
who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches,
and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free
in Israel. And David spake to the men that
stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth
this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For
who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies
of the living God? And the people answered him after
this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth
him. And Eliab his eldest brother
heard when he spake unto the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled
against David. And he said, Why camest thou
down hither? and with whom hast thou left
those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness
of thine heart, for thou art come down that thou mightest
see the battle. And David said, What have I now
done? Is there not a cause? And he
turned from him toward another and spake after the same manner,
and the people answered him again after the former manner. And
when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them
before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul,
Let no man's heart fail because of him. Thy servant will go and
fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou
art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him,
for thou art but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth.
And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep.
And there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock.
And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out
of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by his
beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the
lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of
them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David
said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of
the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me
out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go,
and the Lord be with thee. And Saul armed David with his
armor, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head, also he
armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon
his armor, and he assayed to go, for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot
go with these, for I have not proved them, and David put them
off him. And he took his staff in his
hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and
put them in a shepherd's bag which he had even in a scrip.
And his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the philistine.
And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the
man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine
looked about and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but
a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine
said unto David, am i a dog that thou comest to me with staves
and the philistine cursed david by his gods and the philistine
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, and
with a spear, and with a shield. But I come to thee in the name
of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom
thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver
thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee and take thine head
from thee, and I will give the carcasses of the hosts of the
Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild
beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there
is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know
that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear, for the battle
is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. And it came
to pass, when the Philistine arose and came and drew nigh
to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet
the Philistine. And David put his hand in his
bag and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine
in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead, and he
fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine
with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine and
slew him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore
David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword,
and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut
off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw
their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and
of Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines until
thou come to the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded
of the Philistines fell down by the way to Sheareim, even
unto Gath and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned
from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to
Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. And when Saul saw
David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain
of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said,
As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. And the king said, Inquire
thou whose son the stripling is. And as David 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 young man? And David
answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse, the Bethlehemite. 2 Samuel Chapter 18 And David numbered
the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands
and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth a
third part of the people unto the hand of Joab, and a third
part unto the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother,
and a third part unto the hand of Ittai, the Gittite. And the
king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself
also. But the people answered, Thou
shalt not go forth, for if we flee away they will not care
for us, neither if half of us die will they care for us. But
now thou art worth ten thousand of us, therefore now it is better
that thou succour us out of the city. And the king said unto
them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the
gateside, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and
Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young
man, even with Absalom. and all the people heard when
the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom so
the people went out into the field against Israel and the
battle was in the wood of Ephraim where the people of Israel were
slain before the servants of David and there was a great slaughter
that day of twenty thousand men for the battle was there scattered
over the face of all the country And the wood devoured more people
that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom met the servants
of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule,
and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his
head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the
heaven and the earth, and the mule that was under him went
away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold,
I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. And Joab said unto the man that
told him, And behold, thou sawest him? and why didst thou not smite
him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten
shekels of silver, and a girdle. and the man said unto Joab, Though
I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would
I not put forth mine hand against the king's son. For in our hearing
the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that
none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise I should have wrought
falsehood against mine own life. For there is no matter hid from
the king, and thou thyself wouldst have set thyself against me.
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three
darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom
while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young
men that bear Joab's armor come past about and smote Absalom
and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and
the people returned from pursuing after Israel, for Joab held back
the people. And they took Absalom, and cast
him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of
stones upon him. And all Israel fled, every one
to his tent. Now Absalom in his lifetime had
taken and reared up for himself a pillar which is in the king's
dale. For he said, I have no son to
keep my name in remembrance. And he called the pillar after
his own name, and it is called unto this day Absalom's place. Then said Ahimaaz, the son of
Zadok, Let me now run and bear the king tidings, how that the
Lord hath avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said unto him,
Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings
another day. But this day thou shalt bear
no tidings, because the king's son is dead. Then said Joab to
Cushai, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushai bowed
himself unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahima as the son of
Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever let me, I pray thee,
also run after Cushai. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt
thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? But
howsoever said he, Let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then
Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. And David sat between the two
gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate
unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold
a man running alone. And the watchman cried and told
the king, and the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings
in his mouth. And he came apace and drew near.
And the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman
called unto the porter, and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth
tidings. And the watchman said, Methinketh
the running of the foremost is like the running of a hymah as
the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good
man, and cometh with good tidings. And Ahimaaz called and said unto
the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth
upon his face before the king and said, Blessed be the Lord
thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their
hand against my lord, the king. And the king said, Is the young
man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered and said,
When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great
tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king said unto him,
Turn aside and stand here. And he turned aside and stood
still. And behold, Cushai came. And Cushai said, Tidings, my
lord the king, for the lord hath avenged thee this day of all
them that rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cushi,
Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies
of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do
thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved,
and went up to the chamber over the gates, and wept. And as he
went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom,
would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son. 1 Samuel chapter 19 And Saul spake
to Jonathan his son and to all his servants that they should
kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted
much in David. And Jonathan told David, saying,
Saul, my father seeketh to kill thee. Now, therefore, I pray
thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret
place, and hide thyself. And I will go out and stand beside
my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune
with my father of thee, and what I see that I will tell thee.'
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said
unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against
David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his
works have been to thee very good. For he did put his life
in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great
salvation for all Israel. Thou sorest it, and didst rejoice. Wherefore then wilt thou sin
against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And Saul
hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan. And Saul swore, As the Lord liveth,
he shall not be slain. And Jonathan called David, and
Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought
David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. And there was war again. And
David went out and fought with the Philistines, and slew them
with a great slaughter. And they fled from him. And the
evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul as he sat in his house
with his javelin in his hand. And David played with his hand.
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin.
But he stepped away out of Saul's presence, and he smoked the javelin
into the wall. And David fled and escaped that
night. Saul also sent messengers unto
David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning. And
Michael, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy
life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain. So Michael let David
down through a window, and he went and fled and escaped. And
Michael took an image and laid it in the bed and put a pillow
of goat's hair for his bolster and covered it with a cloth.
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is
sick. And Saul sent the messengers
again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that
I may slay him. And when the messengers were
come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow
of goat's hair for his bolster. And Saul said unto Michael, Why
hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he
is escaped? And Michael answered Saul, He
said unto me, Let me go, why should I kill thee? So David
fled and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him
all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt
in Naoth. And it was told Saul, saying,
Behold, David is at Naoth in Ramah. And Saul sent messengers
to take David. And when they saw the company
of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed
over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul,
and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he
sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul
sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he also to Ramah, and
came to a great well that is in Sikhu. And he asked and said,
Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be
at Naoth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naoth
in Ramah, and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went
on and prophesied until he came to Naoth in Ramah. And he stripped
off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner,
and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore
they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? 1 Samuel chapter 20 And David fled from Naoth in
Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what
is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? And
he said unto him, God forbid thou shalt not die. Behold, my
father will do nothing, either great or small, but that he will
show it me. And why should my father hide
this thing from me? It is not so. And David swam
moreover and said, thy father certainly knoweth that I have
found grace in thine eyes. And he saith, let not Jonathan
know this, lest he be grieved. But truly, as the Lord liveth
and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and
death. Then said Jonathan unto David,
Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. And
David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and
I should not fail to sit with the king at meat. But let me
go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day
at even. If thy father at all miss me,
then say, David earnestly asked leave of me, that he might run
to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for
all the family. If he say thus, it is well, thy
servant shall have peace. But if he be very wroth, then
be sure that evil is determined by him. Therefore thou shalt
deal kindly with thy servant. For thou hast brought thy servant
into a covenant of the Lord with thee. Notwithstanding, if there
be in me iniquity, slay me thyself. For why shouldst thou bring me
to thy father? And Jonathan said, Far be it
from thee. For if I knew certainly that
evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would
not I tell it thee? Then said David to Jonathan who
shall tell me or what if thy father answer thee roughly and
Jonathan said unto David Come, and let it go out into the field.
And they went out, both of them, into the field. And Jonathan
said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded my
father about to-morrow, any time, or the third day, and behold,
if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee,
and showeth thee, the Lord do so, and much more to Jonathan.
But if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will show
it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace,
and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness
of the Lord, that I die not, but also thou shalt not cut off
thy kindness from my house for ever. No, not when the Lord hath
cut off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the
earth, so jonathan made a covenant with the house of david saying
let the lord even require it at the hand of david's enemies
and jonathan caused david to swear again because he loved
him for he loved him as he loved his own soul Then Jonathan said
to David, Tomorrow is the new moon, and thou shalt be missed,
because thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three
days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place
where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand,
and shalt remain by the stone easel. And I will shoot three
arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And
behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I
expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of
thee, take them. Then come thou, for there is
peace to thee, and no hurt, as the Lord liveth. But if I say
thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee. Go
thy way, for the Lord hath sent thee away. And as touching the
matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be
between thee and me for ever. So David hid himself in the field,
and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat
meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even
upon a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner
sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless
Saul spake not anything that day, for he thought something
hath befallen him, he is not clean, surely he is not clean.
And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the
month, that David's place was empty. And Saul said unto Jonathan
his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meet neither
yesterday nor today? And Jonathan answered Saul, David
earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. And he said,
Let me go, I pray thee, for our family hath a sacrifice in the
city, and my brother he hath commanded me to be there. And
now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me get away,
I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto
the king's table. Then Saul's anger was kindled
against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse,
rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son
of Jesse to thine own confusion and unto the confusion of thy
mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse
liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor
thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch
him unto me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul
his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain?
what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him
to smite him, whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of
his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose from the table
in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the
month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had
done him shame. And it came to pass in the morning,
that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with
David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad,
Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad
ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come
to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried
after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan
cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's
lad gathered up the arrows and came to his master. But the lad
knew not anything, only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And
Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad and said unto him, Go,
carry them to the city. And as soon as the lad was gone,
David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face
to the ground, and bowed himself three times. And they kissed
one another, and wept one with another, until David acceded.
And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace for as much as we have
sworn, both of us, in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord
be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed forever. And he arose and departed. And Jonathan went into the city. 1 Samuel chapter 21 Then came David to Nob, to Ahimelech
the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid at the
meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and
no man with thee? And David said unto Ahimelech
the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said
unto me, Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I
send thee, and what I have commanded thee, and I have appointed my
servants to such and such a place. Now therefore What is under thine
hand? Give me five loaves of bread
in mine hand, or what there is present." And the priest answered
David and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there
is hallowed bread, if the young men have kept themselves at least
from women. And David answered the priest
and said unto him, Of a truth, women have been kept from us
about these three days since I came out, and the vessels of
the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common,
yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. So the
priest gave him hallowed bread, for there was no bread there
but the showbread that was taken from before the Lord to put hot
bread in the day when it was taken away. Now a certain man
of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the
Lord, and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the
herdmen that belonged to Saul. And David said unto Ahimelech,
And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have
neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the
king's business required haste. And the priest said, The sword
of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of
Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.
If thou wilt take that, take it, for there is no other save
that here. And David said, There is none
like that. Give it me. And David arose and
fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish, the king
of Gath. And the servants of Achish said
unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not
sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain
his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid
up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish
the king of Gath. And he changed his behaviour
before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled
on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon
his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants.
Lo, ye see the man is mad. Wherefore then have ye brought
him to me? Have I need of madman, that ye have brought this fellow
to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my
house?