First Samuel

1.1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zophim, of mount Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeraham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

1.2 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.

1.3 And that man went up out of his city from time to time to worship and to sacrifice to YHVH of hosts in Shiloh. And there were the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests of YHVH.

1.4 And it came to pass on that day, that Elkanah sacrificed, and gave portions unto Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters.

1.5 And to Hannah he gave a portion of baked bread, because he loved Hannah, and YHVH had closed her womb.

1.6 And her anger was great, and her grief was great, because of the mane, because YHVH had shut up her womb.

1.7 And so it shall be, year by year, that she shall offer an offering in the house of YHVH, and she shall be angry, and shall weep, and shall not eat.

1.8 And Elkanah said unto Hannah his wife, Why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thine heart grieved? am I not better unto thee than ten sons?

1.9 And Hannah rose up after she had eaten and drunk, and Eli the priest sat upon the throne, upon the threshold of the house of YHVH.

1.10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto YHVH, and wept sore.

1.11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O YHVH of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look upon the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid seed of men, and I will give him to YHVH all the days of his life, and there shall no scorn come upon his head.

1.12 And it came to pass, when she prayed often before YHVH, that he kept her mouth shut.

1.13 And Hannah speaks in her heart, only her lips move, and her voice is not heard, and she thinks of me as her reward.

1.14 And he said unto her, How long will ye be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee.

1.15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a fiery spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, and I have poured out my soul before YHVH.

1.16 Do not give your handmaid to a worthless woman, for out of the abundance of my words and in my wrath I have spoken until now.

1.17 And he answered Eli, and said, Go in peace. and the Alhym of Israel give thee the kingdom which thou hast asked of his people.

1.18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. And the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

1.19 And they rose up in the morning, and worshipped before YHVH, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah. and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and YHVH remembered her.

1.20 And it came to pass in due time, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son, and called his name Samuel, because I have asked him of YHVH.

1.21 And the man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to YHVH the continual sacrifice and his vow.

1.22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her wife, "Until the boy is weaned, then I will bring him and see the face of YHVH, and he will remain there forever."

1.23 And Elkanah said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good. abide until thou have weaned him. only YHVH establish his word. And the woman returned, and nursed her son until thou hadst weaned him.

1.24 And she took him up with her, as she had weaned him, with three oxen, and an ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of YHVH himself, and the child was a boy.

1.25 And they slaughtered the bullock, and brought the boy unto Eli.

1.26 And she said, My lord, as your soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by her here to pray unto YHVH.

1.27 I prayed to this young man, and YHVH gave me my request that I asked of him.

1.28 And I also lent him to YHVH all the days that he was a prisoner to YHVH, and there he worshiped YHVH.

2.1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in YHVH. my horn is exalted in YHVH. I will enlarge my mouth against mine enemies. for I rejoice in thy salvation.

2.2 There is none holy as YHVH. for there is none like thee, neither is there any rock like unto thee.

2.3 Do not speak arrogantly, arrogantly, and let arrogance come out of your mouths, for the thoughts of YHVH are ours, and we do not give in to temptation.

2.4 A bow of men, weak and failing, gathered strength.

2.5 Seventy were filled with bread, and the hungry ceased, until the barren woman gave birth to seven, and she who had many children was miserable.

2.6 YHVH kills and makes alive, brings down to the grave and raises up.

2.7 YHVH gives inheritance and makes rich; he humbles and exalts.

2.8 He raises up the poor from the dust of the earth, and raises up the needy from the dunghill, to make them sit with the great, and to make them inherit a throne of honor. For YHVH has set the oppressors of the earth, and he has set the world upon them.

2.9 He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked will be in darkness, for no one will prevail by force.

2.10 YHVH will break forth from his enemies in the heavens; YHVH will thunder from the ends of the earth; and he will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

2.11 And Elkanah went to Ramathaim to his house. and the child ministered unto YHVH before Eli the priest.

2.12 And the sons of Eli, the sons of Belial, knew not YHVH.

2.13 And the priests judged the people, and every man offered a sacrifice. and the priest's servant came, as soon as the flesh was boiled, with a fork of three years in his hand.

2.14 And if he strike the basin, or the kettle, or the caldron, or the pan, whereon the fork cometh up, the priest shall take it. Thus shall they do to all Israel that come thither in the day of YHVH.

2.15 And before they had burnt the milk, the priest's servant came and said to the man who was sacrificing, "Give flesh to roast for the priest; he will not take from you boiled flesh, but raw."

2.16 And the man said unto him, Burn incense, and burn it as the day of the milk, and take as much as thy soul desireth. And I said unto him, Give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.

2.17 And the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of YHVH. for the men despised the offering of YHVH.

2.18 And Samuel ministered before YHVH, a child girded with a linen ephod.

2.19 And his mother made him a little coat, and brought him up from time to time, by the way of her wife, to sacrifice the sacrifice of the days.

2.20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, YHVH give thee seed of this woman, according to the request which thou hast asked of YHVH. And they went to his place.

2.21 And YHVH visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. and the boy Samuel grew up with YHVH.

2.22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were in the army at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

2.23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things as these? for I hear of your evil words from all this people.

2.24 My son, how good is the report that I have heard of the goings-on of YHVH!

2.25 If a man sin against another, and they sin against Alhym, and if a man sin against YHVH, who shall pray unto him? and they shall not hearken unto the voice of their father, because YHVH will slay them.

2.26 And the boy Samuel grew and was in favor both with YHVH and with men.

2.27 And there came a man of Alhym unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith YHVH, I appeared unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt unto Pharaoh's house.

2.28 And he chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up on my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me, and I will give to your father's house all the inheritance of the children of Israel.

2.29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I commanded you to make atonement for, and to honor your sons before me, to save them from the beginning of all the offerings of Israel to my people?

2.30 Therefore thus saith YHVH Alhym of Israel, Say, I said, Thy house, and the house of thy father, shall walk before me for ever. but now saith YHVH, Alhym forbid. for them that honour me will I honour, and they that despise me shall be despised.

2.31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thy seed, and the seed of thy father's house, from the old man in thine house.

2.32 And you shall look upon the poor of Maon in all that is good for Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house for ever.

2.33 And I will not cut off any from my altars to consume your eyes and to please your soul, and all the rest of your house shall die.

2.34 And this shall be the sign unto thee, which shall come upon thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. in one day they shall both die.

2.35 And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my soul; and I will build him a faithful house, and he shall walk before my anointed for ever.

2.36 And it shall come to pass, that all that are left in thine house shall come and bow down unto him for a piece of silver, and for a loaf of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, unto one of the priestesses, that I may eat a morsel of bread.

3.1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to YHVH before Eli, and the word of YHVH was precious in those days; no vision was revealed.

3.2 And it came to pass that day, that Eli lay in his place, and his eyes began to grow dim, that he could not see.

3.3 And the lamp of Alhym had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of YHVH, where the ark of Alhym was.

3.4 And YHVH called Samuel, and said, Here am I.

3.5 And he ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not. lie down again. And he went and lay down.

3.6 And it came to pass, that YHVH called Samuel again. and Samuel arose, and went unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not, my son; lie down again.

3.7 Now Samuel did not yet know YHVH, nor had the word of YHVH yet been revealed to him.

3.8 And it came to pass, that YHVH called Samuel the third time. and he arose, and went unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli understood that YHVH had called the lad.

3.9 And Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down. and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, The word of YHVH; for thy servant heareth. And Samuel went and lay down in his place.

3.10 And YHVH came and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. and Samuel said, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

3.11 And YHVH said unto Samuel, Behold, I do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of whosoever heareth thereof shall tingle.

3.12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

3.13 And I told him that I would judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, that his sons cursed them, and there was no darkness in them.

3.14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, if the iniquity of the house of Eli shall be atoned for by sacrifice and offering forever.

3.15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of YHVH. and Samuel feared to tell the vision unto Eli.

3.16 And Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.

3.17 And he said, What is the thing that he spake unto thee? Hide it not from me. so do Alhym to thee, and more also, if thou hide from me any thing of all the thing that he spake unto thee.

3.18 And Samuel told him all the words, and hid not one thing from him. and he said, YHVH shall do that which is good in his sight.

3.19 And Samuel grew, and YHVH was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.

3.20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of YHVH.

3.21 And YHVH continued to appear in Silas, for YHVH revealed himself to Samuel in Silas by the word of YHVH.

4.1 And when Samuel had spoken to all Israel, Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched in the stone of Ezer. and the Philistines pitched in Ephesus.

4.2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. and the battle was joined. and Israel was smitten before the Philistines, and slew in the field about four thousand men in the battle.

4.3 And the people came into the camp, and the elders of Israel said, Why has YHVH smitten us today before the Philistines? He has brought back to us the ark of the covenant of YHVH, and it has come among us, and has saved us from the hand of our enemies.

4.4 And the people sent, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of YHVH of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims. and there were there the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, with the ark of the covenant of Alhym.

4.5 And it came to pass, when the ark of the covenant of YHVH came into the camp, that all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

4.6 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 knew that the ark of YHVH was come into the camp.

4.7 And when the Philistines saw that Alhym had come into the camp, they said, Woe unto us! for there was not such a thing as this yesterday, as it is now.

4.8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with all the plagues in the wilderness.

4.9 Be strong and become men of the Philistines, lest you become servants to the Hebrews, as they have served you, and become men and fight.

4.10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent. and there was a very great slaughter. and there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

4.11 And the ark of Alhym was taken. and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

4.12 And a man of Benjamin ran out of the battle, and came to the city that day with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head.

4.13 And he came, and, behold, Eli sat upon his seat by the way of Misbah, for his heart trembled for the ark of Alhym. and the man came to tell it in the city. and all the city cried out.

4.14 And Eli heard the noise of the shouting, and said, What meaneth the noise of this multitude? And the man ran, and came and told Eli.

4.15 And Eli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see.

4.16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the battle, and I fled out of the battle to day. And he said, What was the matter, my son?

4.17 And the herald answered and said, Israel is a slain before the Philistines, and there is also a great pestilence among the people, and also thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of Alhym is taken.

4.18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of Alhym, that he fell from off the seat by the side of the gate, and his hip was broken, and he died. for the man was old and heavy; and he had judged Israel forty years.

4.19 And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child, and when she heard the tidings that the ark of Alhym was taken, and that her father-in-law and her wife were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth, for her labor pains were turned upon her.

4.20 And now she is dead, and her attendants say to her, Fear not, for thou hast borne a son, and hast not answered, nor taken heart.

4.21 And she called the young man by name, saying, Bring forth glory out of Israel to the ark of Alhym, and to her father-in-law and to her wife.

4.22 And she said, Take away the glory from Israel. for the ark of Alhym is taken.

5.1 And the Philistines took the ark of Alhym, and brought it from Abenezer to Ashdod.

5.2 And the Philistines took the ark of Alhym, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it before Dagon.

5.3 And when they of Ashdod arose early the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of YHVH. and they took Dagon, and set him in his place.

5.4 And when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of YHVH; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only Dagon was left upon him.

5.5 Therefore the priests of Dagon, and all who come to the house of Dagon, do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

5.6 And the hand of YHVH was great against the Ashdodites, and he destroyed them, and smote them with a pestilence, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

5.7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the Alhym of Israel shall not abide with us. for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

5.8 And they sent and gathered together all YHVHs of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do to the ark of the Alhym of Israel? And they said, Let the ark of the Alhym of Israel be brought again to Gath. And they brought again the ark of the Alhym of Israel.

5.9 And it came to pass, after he had returned, that the hand of YHVH was in the city with a very great destruction, and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and left them a remnant.

5.10 And they sent the ark of Alhym to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of Alhym came to Ekron, that the men of Ekron cried out, saying, Bring back the ark of the Alhym of Israel to me, that they may kill me and my people.

5.11 And they sent and gathered together all YHVHs of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the Alhym of Israel, and let it return to his own place, that he kill me not, and my people. for there was a great tumult throughout all the city; and the hand of Alhym was very heavy there.

5.12 And the men who did not die were struck by lightning, and the city's roar went up to heaven.

6.1 And the ark of YHVH was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

6.2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of YHVH? Tell us where we are sent to him.

6.3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the Alhym of Israel, send it not empty. for if ye send it again, ye shall bring it again guiltily. Then shall ye be healed, and it shall be known unto you why his hand is not removed from you.

6.4 And they said, What is the guilt that we shall return to him? And they said, The number of YHVHs of the Philistines is five golden tumuli, and five golden mice. for one plague is upon them all, and upon your lords.

6.5 And ye made graven images of your flies, and graven images of your mice, which ravage the land, and gave glory to the Alhym of Israel. peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

6.6 And why do you harden your hearts as Egypt hardened, and Pharaoh hardened their hearts, when he oppressed them, and let them go, and went away?

6.7 Now therefore take and make a new cart, and two kine that have not come forth, and yoke the kine to the cart, and bring their children home after them.

6.8 And you shall take the ark of YHVH, and lay it upon the cart, and the golden vessels, which you returned to him as a guilt offering, put in a coffer by its side, and send it away, and it shall go.

6.9 And you shall see whether the way of his border goes up to Beth-shemesh, he has done us this great evil. but if not, then we shall know that his hand has not touched us; it was an accident to us.

6.10 And the men did so, and took two heifers for a burnt offering, and tied them to the cart, and their children ate them in the house.

6.11 And they put the ark of YHVH upon the cart, and the coffer, and the golden mice, and the images of their feet.

6.12 And the kine went straight along the road to Beth-shemesh, in a single line, going as they went, and turning not aside to the right hand or to the left. and YHVHs of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-shemesh.

6.13 And Bethshemesh reaped the wheat harvest in the valley. and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

6.14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua the son of Shemesh, and stood there, and there was a great stone. and they clave the wood of the cart, and the kine offered a burnt offering unto YHVH.

6.15 And the Levites took down the ark of YHVH, and the coffer that was with it, wherein were the vessels of gold, and set them upon the great stone. and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed sacrifices that day unto YHVH.

6.16 And the five lords of the Philistines saw, and they encamped at Ekron that day.

6.17 And these are the golden scepters which the Philistines returned as a trespass unto YHVH. to Ashdod one, to Gaza one, to Ashkelon one, to Gath one, to Ekron one.

6.18 And the golden mice numbered all the cities of the Philistines for the five captains, from the city of the stronghold unto the city of Perizz, even unto the great mourning, where they have set the ark of YHVH unto this day, in the field of Joshua the son of Shemesh.

6.19 And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they saw the ark of YHVH, and smote of the people seventy men, even fifty thousand men. and the people mourned, because YHVH had smitten the people with a great plague.

6.20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy YHVH Alhym? and to whom shall he go up for us?

6.21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of YHVH. come down, and bring it up unto you.

7.1 And the men of Kiriath Jearim came, and brought up the ark of YHVH, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill. and they sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of YHVH.

7.2 And it came to pass, that from the day the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, the days were many, and were twenty years. and all the house of Israel walked after YHVH.

7.3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto YHVH with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods from among you, and the groves, and prepare your hearts unto YHVH, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

7.4 And the children of Israel put away Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served YHVH only.

7.5 Then Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to YHVH.

7.6 And they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before YHVH, and fasted that day, and said, There we have sinned against YHVH. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

7.7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, YHVHs of the Philistines went up against Israel. and the children of Israel heard, and were afraid of the Philistines.

7.8 And the children of Israel said unto Samuel, Cease not from crying unto YHVH our Alhym, and save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

7.9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering unto YHVH. and Samuel cried unto YHVH for Israel, and YHVH answered him.

7.10 And it came to pass, when Samuel was gone up to offer the burnt offering, that the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. and YHVH thundered with a great thunder that day upon the Philistines, and they were discomfited, and were smitten before Israel.

7.11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them as far as under Beth-ker.

7.12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name thereof Iben Haezer, saying, Hitherto hath YHVH helped us.

7.13 And the Philistines were subdued, and came no more into the coast of Israel. and the hand of YHVH was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

7.14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath, and Israel delivered their coasts out of the hand of the Philistines. and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

7.15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

7.16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

7.17 And he dwelt at Ramah. for there was his house, and there he judged Israel. and there he built an altar unto YHVH.

8.1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

8.2 And the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abia, Shaphat in Beersheba.

8.3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after covetousness, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

8.4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah.

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

8.6 And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. and Samuel prayed unto YHVH.

8.7 And YHVH said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee. for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

8.8 According to all the works which they have done from the day that I brought them up out of Egypt unto this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

8.9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice, because the witness beareth witness against them, and thou shalt shew them the judgment of the king that shall reign over them.

8.10 And Samuel told all the words of YHVH unto the people that asked of him a king.

8.11 And he said, This shall be the manner of the king that shall reign over you. he shall take your sons, and appoint them for himself for his chariots, and for his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots.

8.12 And to appoint him captains of thousands, and captains of fifties, to plow his plowing, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and his chariots.

8.13 And he will take your daughters to be cooks, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

8.14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good oliveyards, and give them to his servants.

8.15 And he will multiply your seed and your vineyards, and give them to his eunuchs and to his servants.

8.16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodly servants, and your asses, and put them to his work.

8.17 Your flock will be rich, and you will be his slaves.

8.18 And you will cry out in that day before your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but YHVH will not answer you in that day.

8.19 And the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us.

8.20 And we also were like all the nations, and our king judged us, and he went out before us, and fought our battles.

8.21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them in the ears of YHVH.

8.22 And YHVH said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

9.1 ​​And there was a man of the tribe of Jemini, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeruor, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of Ish Jemini, a mighty man of valor.

9.2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly choice man. and there was not a man among the children of Israel better than he, from his shoulders and upward, than any of the people.

9.3 And the asses of Kish the father of Saul were lost. And Kish said unto Saul his son, Take, I pray thee, one of the young men with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

9.4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of the three, and found them not. and he passed through the land of Elim, and there was none. and he passed through the land of Jemini, and found them not.

9.5 And they came to the land of Zuph. and Saul said unto his servant that was with him, Go, and let us return, lest my father leave off the oxen, and care for us.

9.6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is a man of Alhym in this city, and he is an honourable man. whosoever he speaketh, let him come now; let us go thither. peradventure he can tell us our way which we went.

9.7 And Saul said unto his servant, Behold, we go; and what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in us, and there is no provision to bring to the man of Alhym. What have we?

9.8 And the young man made an end of questioning Saul, and said, Behold, I have found with me a fourth part of a shekel of silver, and I gave it to the man of Alhym, that he might tell us our way.

9.9 In the past in Israel, when a man went to inquire of Alhym, he said, “Come, let us go until it appears to us that a prophet is called today.”

9.10 And Saul said to his servant, "Well said, come, let us go." And they went to the city where the man of Alhym was.

9.11 And they went up into the city, and found maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is there any man here?

9.12 And they said unto them, Is there any that is before thee now? For the day is come to the city; for there is a sacrifice for the people to-day in the high place.

9.13 When you come to the city, you will find him before he goes up to the altar to eat. For the people will not eat until they come, because he has blessed the sacrifice. After that, those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will find him with him as you do today.

9.14 And they went up into the city, and as they came into the city, behold, Samuel came out to meet them to go up to the altar.

9.15 And YHVH revealed to Samuel the day before Saul came, saying,

9.16 Tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and I will anoint him to be ruler over my people Israel, and he will save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.

9.17 And Samuel saw Saul, and YHVH answered him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to thee, he shall stand before my people.

9.18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where is the house of the seer?

9.19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I will shew thee, go up before the altar, and ye shall eat with my people this day. and in the morning I will let thee go, and tell thee all that is in thine heart.

9.20 And as for the lost sheep, thou shalt have them this day three days. set not thine heart upon them. for they are found. and to whom is all the good of Israel but thine, and to all thy father's house?

9.21 And Saul answered and said, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the most insignificant of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? And why speakest thou unto me after this manner?

9.22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited. and they were about thirty men.

9.23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, set it by thee.

9.24 And the butcher took up the ram and the ram's horn, and set it before Saul, and said, Behold, that which is left, set it before thee, eat. for it is kept for thee for a time, saying, I have called the people. And Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

9.25 And they came down from the high place into the city, and he talked with Saul on the housetop.

9.26 And they arose, and it came to pass about the break of day, that Samuel called unto Saul upon the roof, saying, Up, that I may send thee. And Saul arose, and they both went out, he and Samuel.

9.27 And they went down to the edge of the city, and Samuel said unto Saul, Tell the lad, and let him go on before us. and pass on, and thou standest still this day, that I may shew thee the word of Alhym.

10.1 Then Samuel took the flask of oil and poured it on his head and gave him a drink. He said, "Is it not because YHVH has anointed you to be governor over his inheritance?"

10.2 When you came today, you found two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they said to you, "The donkeys you went to seek have been found. But now your father has left off talking about the donkeys, and he worries about you, saying, 'What shall I do for my son?'"

10.3 And you passed on from there and came to the oak of Tabor, and there met you three men going up to the house of Alhym, one carrying three kids, and one carrying three loaves of bread, and one carrying a bottle of wine.

10.4 And they saluted thee, and gave thee two loaves of bread, and thou didst take of their hand.

10.5 Then you will come to the hill of Alhym, where the Philistines have encamped, and you will be there, and you will be there, and you will find a group of prophets coming down from the platform, with a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying.

10.6 And the Spirit of YHVH came mightily upon thee, and thou didst prophesy with them, and wast turned into another man.

10.7 And it shall come to pass, when these signs come unto thee, that thou dost as thy hand findeth. for Alhym is with thee.

10.8 And thou shalt go down before the chariot. and, behold, I will come down unto thee to offer a burnt offering, and a sacrifice of peace offerings. seven days shalt thou tarry, until I come unto thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

10.9 And it came to pass, as he turned his face to go from Samuel, that Alhym gave him another heart. and all those signs came to pass that day.

10.10 And when they came thither to Gibeah, behold, a company of prophets met him. and the Spirit of Alhym came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them.

10.11 And it came to pass, that all that knew him from the day before yesterday saw, and, behold, a company of prophets prophesied. and the people said one to another, What is this that is in the hand of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

10.12 And one of them answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore was Saul also a prophet.

10.13 And when he had finished prophesying, he entered the platform.

10.14 And David said unto Saul, Where went ye? And he said, To seek the asses. and, behold, they were not there. and we went to Samuel.

10.15 And David said unto Saul, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

10.16 And Saul said unto his uncle, Hegad told us that the asses were found. but he told him not of the kingdom, as Samuel said.

10.17 And Samuel cried unto the people unto YHVH that was in Mizpah.

10.18 And he said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith YHVH Alhym of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of Egypt, and out of the hand of all kingdoms that oppressed you.

10.19 And ye have this day despised your Alhym, which saveth you out of all your adversities and your tribulations, and have said unto him, Set a king over us. and now stand before YHVH by your tribes and by your thousands.

10.20 And Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

10.21 And he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by his family, and the family of the Matrites was gathered together, and Saul the son of Kish was gathered together. and they sought him, but he could not be found.

10.22 And they inquired yet again of YHVH. and YHVH smote another man, and said, Behold, he is hid among the vessels.

10.23 And they ran and took him from there, and he stood among the people, and was higher than all the people from his shoulders and upward.

10.24 And Samuel said unto all the people, See ye him whom YHVH hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people feared, and said, Long live the king.

10.25 And Samuel told the people the judgment of the queen, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before YHVH. and Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

10.26 And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah, and the men whose hearts Alhym had touched went with him.

10.27 And the sons of Belial said, What shall we do with this? And they despised him, and brought him no offering. and he was as one that was silent.

11.1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you."

11.2 And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, I will now gouge out all your right eyes, and make you a reproach unto all Israel.

11.3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel. and if there be no deliverer with us, we will come out unto thee.

11.4 And the angels came to Gibeah of Saul, and spake the words in the ears of the people. and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

11.5 And, behold, Saul came after the oxen out of the field. And Saul said, What aileth the people, that they weep, and tell him the words of the men of Jabesh?

11.6 And the Spirit of Alhym came upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.

11.7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul, and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto him. And the fear of YHVH fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.

11.8 And they fought against them in Bezek, and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

11.9 And they said to the messengers who came, Thus shall ye say to the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow ye shall have deliverance by the heat of the sun. And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, and they rejoiced.

11.10 And the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto you.

11.11 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Saul put the people under three captains, and they came into the midst of the camp at the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day. and it came to pass, that they that were left fled, so that there remained not two of them together.

11.12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? Give up the men, that we may put them to death.

11.13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day. for this day YHVH hath wrought salvation in Israel.

11.14 And Samuel said unto the people, Go, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

11.15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there made Saul king before YHVH in Gilgal, and there they offered whole burnt offerings before YHVH. and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

12.1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have heard your complaint in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

12.2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you, and I am old and waxen old, and my sons are with you. and I have walked before you from my youth even unto this day.

12.3 Behold, I have pleaded against YHVH, and against his anointed. whose ox have I taken? and whose ass have I taken? and whose hand have I taken? and whose hand have I taken? and I will lift up mine eyes upon him, and I will repay you.

12.4 And they said, Thou hast not oppressed us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught from any man's hand.

12.5 And he said unto them, As surely as YHVH is with you, and as surely as his anointed is with you, this day, that ye have found nothing in my hand. And he said, As surely as YHVH is with you, and as surely as his anointed is with you, this day, that ye have found nothing in my hand.

12.6 And Samuel said unto the people, YHVH that made Moses and Aaron, and that brought up your fathers out of the land of Egypt,

12.7 Now therefore stand still, that I may judge you before YHVH of all the righteousnesses of YHVH, which he did unto you and to your fathers.

12.8 When Jacob came into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto YHVH, YHVH sent Moses and Aaron, and they brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

12.9 And they forgot YHVH their Alhym; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.

12.10 And they cried unto YHVH, and he said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken YHVH, and have served Baalim and the Ashtaroth. but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

12.11 And YHVH sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies round about, and ye dwelt safely.

12.12 And ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, and ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us; but YHVH your Alhym shall be your king.

12.13 And now, behold, the king whom ye have chosen, whom ye have asked for; and, behold, YHVH hath set a king over you.

12.14 If you fear YHVH and serve him and obey his voice and do not rebel against YHVH, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow YHVH your Alhym.

12.15 But if you will not obey the voice of YHVH, but rebel against YHVH, then the hand of YHVH will be upon you and upon your fathers.

12.16 Now therefore stand still, and see this great thing which YHVH hath done before your eyes.

12.17 Is it not wheat harvest? Today I will call upon YHVH, that he may give light and rain. And know and see that your evil, which you have done, is great in the sight of YHVH, in asking you a king.

12.18 And Samuel called unto YHVH; and YHVH gave light and rain that day. and all the people greatly feared YHVH and Samuel.

12.19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto YHVH thy Alhym, that we die not. for he will add unto all our sins the evil of asking us a king.

12.20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not. ye have done all this evil. yet turn not aside from following YHVH, but serve YHVH with all your heart.

12.21 And do not turn away, for they are after a perdition that cannot profit nor save, for they are perdition.

12.22 For YHVH will not forsake his people for his great name's sake. because it hath pleased YHVH to make you a people unto himself.

12.23 And as for me, far be it from me to sin against YHVH, if I fail to pray for you, and to instruct you in the good and right way.

12.24 But fear YHVH, and serve him in truth with all your heart. for they have seen how great he is with you.

12.25 And if evil befall you, both you and your king shall perish.

13.1 Saul was one year old when he became king, and he reigned two years over Israel.

13.2 And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel. and a thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in mount Benjamin. and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

13.3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba. and the Philistines heard it. and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

13.4 And all Israel heard say, Saul hath smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also Israel is smitten with the Philistines. and the people cried after Saul to Gilgal.

13.5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and a people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude. and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, before Beth-on.

13.6 And when the men of Israel saw that they were distressed because the people were come near, the people hid themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in thickets, and in pits.

13.7 And the Hebrews went over Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. and Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people were afraid of him.

13.8 And he waited seven days for the set time of Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people scattered from him.

13.9 And Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

13.10 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him to bless him.

13.11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the set time, and that the Philistines were gathered together from Misham.

13.12 And I said, Now the Philistines will come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not been afflicted before YHVH. therefore I will refrain myself, and offer the burnt offering.

13.13 And Samuel said unto Saul, Thou hast done foolishly. thou hast not kept the commandment of YHVH thy Alhym, which he commanded thee. for now YHVH hath established thy kingdom over Israel for ever.

13.14 And now thy kingdom shall not continue. YHVH hath sought him a man after his own heart, and YHVH hath commanded him to be prince over his people. because thou hast not kept the commandment of YHVH.

13.15 And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal unto mount Benjamin. and Saul numbered the people that were with him, which were about six hundred men.

13.16 Now Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin. and the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

13.17 And the destroyer came out of the camp of the Philistines with three heads. one head turned toward the way to Ophrah, to the land of Shual.

13.18 And one head shall turn toward Beth-haron, and one head shall turn toward the border that looketh toward the wilderness of the wilderness.

13.19 And there was no deaf person found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.

13.20 And all Israel went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his plowshare, and his mattock, and his mattock, and his mattock.

13.21 And the request was for the plowshare, and for the spades, and for the three forks, and for the mattocks, and for the setting of the goad.

13.22 And it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan. but it was found with Saul and Jonathan his son.

13.23 And the army of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

14.1 And it came to pass on that day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the lad, Take up thy weapons, and go, and let us go over to the Philistine garrison that is beyond this place. but he told not his father.

14.2 Now Saul was staying on the edge of the hill under Hermon, which is in Migron, and the people who were with him were about six hundred men.

14.3 And Ahiah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of YHVH, was wearing an ephod in his hand; but the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

14.4 And between the passes which Jonathan sought to go over against the Philistine garrison, the rock of the mountain was on this side, and the rock of the mountain was on that side. and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

14.5 One tooth is from a cliff to the north, facing Michmash, and the other is from the Negev, facing Geva.

14.6 And Jonathan said unto the lad that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that YHVH will work for us. for there is nothing restraining YHVH to save by many or by few.

14.7 And he said unto him, My armorbearer, do all that is in thine heart. behold, I am with thee, as is thine heart.

14.8 And Jonathan said, Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and shew ourselves unto them.

14.9 If they say thus unto us, Let us wait until we come unto you, and let us stand under our feet, and let us not go up unto them.

14.10 And if they say thus, Come up against us, and we will be overcome. for YHVH hath delivered them into our hand. and this shall be a sign unto us.

14.11 And they both looked unto the garrison of the Philistines. and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews are come out of the ambushes which have hid themselves there.

14.12 And the men of the sepulchre answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and said, Come up unto us, and I will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armor-bearer, Come up after me. for YHVH hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

14.13 And Jonathan arose upon his hands and upon his feet, and carried his weapons after him. and they fell before Jonathan, and carried his weapons after him.

14.14 And the first blow which Jonathan and his armourbearers smote was about twenty men, as much as half a compass of a field.

14.15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and in all the people. the destroyer also was afraid, and the earth trembled, and there was a terror to Alhym.

14.16 And they that were in the hill country of Benjamin saw Saul, and, behold, the multitude fled away, and departed, and were astonished.

14.17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Now count, and see who has gone from us." And they counted, and behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer are not there.

14.18 And Saul said unto his brethren, Bring hither the ark of Alhym. for the ark of Alhym was there that day, and the children of Israel.

14.19 And it came to pass, when Saul spake unto the priest, and unto the multitude that was in the camp of the Philistines, that he went forth and spake, and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.

14.20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him shouted, and they came to the battle. And behold, everyone's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great confusion.

14.21 And the Hebrews were with the Philistines as before, who went up with them into the camp round about. and they also were with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.

14.22 And all the men of Israel that were in hiding in mount Ephraim heard that the Philistines fled, and they also followed after them in the battle.

14.23 And YHVH saved Israel that day. and the battle passed over Beth-on.

14.24 And the man of Israel came that day, and Saul said unto the people, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, and I will be avenged of mine enemy. and none of the people tasted any food.

14.25 And all the land came into the forest, and there was honey upon the face of the field.

14.26 And the people came into the forest, and, behold, there was honey, and no man put his hand to his mouth. for the people feared the seven.

14.27 But Jonathan did not hear when his father charged the people with the oath. But he put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes saw.

14.28 And one of the people answered and said, Thy father straitly charged the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any bread this day, and the people fled.

14.29 And Jonathan said, My father hath troubled the land. behold, my eyes are enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

14.30 For if the people had not eaten today, they would have eaten from the spoil of their enemies which they had found, for now the plague on the Philistines was not so great.

14.31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Elanah, and the people fled greatly.

14.32 And the people took the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground. and the people did eat with the blood.

14.33 And they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against YHVH, in eating with the blood. And he said, Ye have trespassed. shew me this day a great stone.

14.34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me every man his ox, and every man his kine, and kill them here, and eat; and sin not against YHVH in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

14.35 And Saul built an altar unto YHVH with him. He began to build an altar unto YHVH.

14.36 ​​And Saul said, We went down after the Philistines all night, and were consumed by them until the morning light, and there was not a man left of them. And they said, Do all that seemeth good unto thee. And the priest said, Let us go near unto Alhym.

14.37 And Saul inquired of Alhym, saying, Go after the Philistines, and deliver them into the hand of Israel. but he answered him not that day.

14.38 And Saul said, Go near, and search all the faces of the people, and know and see in what manner this sin was this day.

14.39 As YHVH liveth, which saveth Israel. but if it lie in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die; and there shall none of the people answer him.

14.40 And he said unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on one side. And the people said unto Saul, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.

14.41 And Saul said unto YHVH Alhym of Israel, Let it be done. and Jonathan and Saul and the people went out.

14.42 And Saul said, Cast a line between me and Jonathan my son. and Jonathan shall be taken.

14.43 And Saul said unto Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I tasted with the end of the rod that is in mine a little honey. behold, I must die.

14.44 And Saul said, Alhym do so to Joseph, and so also. for Jonathan shall surely die.

14.45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? For Alhym forbid, as YHVH liveth, that there should fall one hair of his head to the ground. for Alhym hath wrought this day. And the people redeemed Jonathan, that he died not.

14.46 And Saul went up after the Philistines. and the Philistines went to their place.

14.47 And Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. and whithersoever he turned he slew them.

14.48 And he became mighty, and smote Amalek, and delivered Israel out of the hand of them that were against him.

14.49 And the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ish-Shui, and Malchi-Shua. And the names of his two daughters were the name of the elder, Merab, and the name of the younger, Michal.

14.50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. and the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, David Saul.

14.51 And Kish the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner, the son of Abiel.

14.52 And the war was sore against the Philistines all the days of Saul. and Saul saw every mighty man, and every valiant man, and gathered him unto him.

15.1 And Samuel said unto Saul, YHVH sent me to anoint thee king over his people Israel. now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of YHVH.

15.2 Thus saith YHVH of hosts; I will punish what Amalek did to Israel, which he did to them by the way of his possession out of Egypt.

15.3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that he hath; and spare not him. but slay both man and woman, beast and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

15.4 And Saul heard the people, and they numbered two hundred thousand foot soldiers, and ten thousand men of Judah.

15.5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and encamped in the valley.

15.6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get thee down from among the Amalekites, lest I gather thee with them. and thou hast shewed kindness unto all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. and the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

15.7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from the camp of Shur, which is over against Egypt.

15.8 And he took Agag the king of Amalek alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

15.9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and of the fatlings, and of all that was good, and all that was not utterly destroyed, and all that was made utterly destroyed.

15.10 And the word of YHVH came unto Samuel, saying,

15.11 I am sorry that I have made Saul king, because he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commands. But he was angry with Samuel and cried out to YHVH all night.

15.12 And Samuel rose up to meet Saul in the morning, and told Samuel, saying, Saul came from Carmel, and, behold, he laid his hand upon him. and he turned and passed on, and went down to Gilgal.

15.13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of YHVH. I have performed the commandment of YHVH.

15.14 And Samuel said, What meaneth this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

15.15 And Saul said, The Amalekites have brought them. for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto YHVH thy Alhym; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

15.16 And Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what YHVH spake unto me this night. And they said unto him, The word

15.17 And Samuel said, "Are you not small in your own eyes, and are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? And YHVH anointed you king over Israel."

15.18 And YHVH sent thee on a journey, and said unto thee, And thou shalt utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and shalt fight against them until they be consumed.

15.19 And why did you not obey the voice of YHVH, but rushed upon the spoil, and did evil in the sight of YHVH?

15.20 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have obeyed the voice of YHVH, and have gone the way which YHVH sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed Amalek.

15.21 And the people took of the spoil sheep and oxen, the firstfruits of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto YHVH thy Alhym in Gilgal.

15.22 And Samuel, who desired YHVH to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices, said, When he heard the voice of YHVH, behold, he hearkened unto a good altar, to hearken unto the fat of rams.

15.23 For thou hast sinned in witchcraft, in rebellion, in violence, and in blasphemy. for thou hast despised the word of YHVH, and hast abhorred thy king.

15.24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned. for I have transgressed the mouth of YHVH, and thy words. for I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

15.25 Now therefore, I pray thee, bear my sin, and return with my people, and I will worship YHVH.

15.26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee. for thou hast rejected the word of YHVH, and YHVH hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

15.27 And Samuel turned to go, and laid hold on the corner of his garment, and rent it.

15.28 And Samuel said unto him, YHVH hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to thy neighbor that is better than thou.

15.29 And the Eternal One of Israel will not lie or be comforted, for He is not a man that He should be comforted.

15.30 And he said, I have sinned. now honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and before my people again, that I may worship YHVH thy Alhym.

15.31 And Samuel sat down after Saul. and Saul worshipped YHVH.

15.32 And Samuel said, Bring hither Agag the king of Amalek. And Agag went unto him out of Ednath, and said, Agag is surely come near unto the bitterness of death.

15.33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath devoured women, so shall thy mother devour women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before YHVH in Gilgal.

15.34 And Samuel went to Ramah. and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

15.35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. for Samuel mourned for Saul, and YHVH repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

16.1 And YHVH said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected thee from being king over Israel? Fill thy horn with oil, and I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite. for I have provided me a king among my sons.

16.2 And Samuel said, How shall I go? and Saul will hear, and will kill me. And YHVH said, Take in thine hand an ox cart, and say, I am come to sacrifice to YHVH.

16.3 And thou shalt call upon my name for the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do. and thou shalt anoint unto me that which he shall say unto thee.

16.4 And Samuel did that which YHVH spake, and came to Bethlehem. and the elders of the city trembled to meet him, and said, Peace be unto thee.

16.5 And he said, Peace be unto YHVH to sacrifice. I am come. sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

16.6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked upon Eliab, and said, Surely YHVH'S anointed is before him.

16.7 And YHVH said unto Samuel, Look not on his appearance, or on the height of his stature; for I have rejected him. for man seeth not as man seeth. for man looketh on the outward appearance, but YHVH looketh on the heart.

16.8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel, and said, Neither hath YHVH chosen this man.

16.9 And Jesse passed by there, and said, Neither hath YHVH chosen this either.

16.10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. and Samuel said unto Jesse, YHVH hath not chosen these.

16.11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, The young men are finished. and he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he feedeth the flock. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send, and take us; for we will not return till we come hither.

16.12 And he sent and brought him in, and he was ruddy, and of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to behold. And YHVH said, Arise, O anointed one; for this is he.

16.13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of YHVH came upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

16.14 And the Spirit of YHVH departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from YHVH troubled him.

16.15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from Alhym is upon thee.

16.16 And he said, My lord, let thy servants seek before thee a man that can play on the harp. and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit of Alhym is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and it shall be well with thee.

16.17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me, I pray thee, a man that can play well, and bring them unto me.

16.18 And one of the young men answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Lishi the Bethlehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a man of valour; and YHVH is with him.

16.19 And Saul sent messengers to Jesse, saying, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

16.20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid of the goats, and sent them by the hand of David his son unto Saul.

16.21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him. and he loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.

16.22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found grace in my sight.

16.23 And it came to pass, when the spirit of Alhym was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand. and the spirit of Saul was well with him, and the evil spirit departed from him.

17.1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, and gathered themselves together against Shukah, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shukah and Azekah, in the valley of the dead.

17.2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and set themselves in array against the Philistines.

17.3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on this side, and Israel stood on the mountain on that side, and the valley was between them.

17.4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, Goliath by name, of Gath, six cubits and a span tall.

17.5 And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and was clothed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

17.6 And a helmet of brass upon his feet, and a spear of brass between his shoulders.

17.7 And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the weight of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron. and a lance went before him.

17.8 And he stood and called to the army of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set yourselves in array for battle? Am not I the Philistine, and ye servants to ask a man of you, and he shall come down unto me?

17.9 If he is able to fight with me, then I will defeat him, and we will be your servants. But if I am able to defeat him, then I will defeat him, and you will be our servants and serve us.

17.10 And the Philistine said, I defy the ranks of Israel this day. give me a man, that we may fight together.

17.11 And Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, and they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

17.12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And the man was old in the days of Saul, and came with men.

17.13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went after Saul to the battle. and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Eliab.

17.14 And David was the youngest, and the three eldest followed Saul.

17.15 And David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

17.16 And the Philistine came near morning and evening, and stood forty days.

17.17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take, I pray thee, this ephah of this parched corn, and this ten loaves of bread, and run to the camp to thy brethren.

17.18 And you shall bring these ten shekels of milk to the captain of the thousand, and you shall declare peace to your brothers, and you shall take their pledge.

17.19 And Saul, and Ham, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

17.20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a guard, and took them, and went as Jesse had commanded him. and the chariot came, and the host went out to the battle, and they fed in the war.

17.21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines for battle.

17.22 And David left his armour with the keeper of the armour, and ran out of the battle, and came and saluted his brethren.

17.23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up one of the sons, Goliath the Philistine, of Gath by name, out of the caves of the Philistines, and spake according to these words. and David heard it.

17.24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

17.25 And the man of Israel said, Have you seen this man that has come up? For to defy Israel he has come up. And it shall be that the man whom they shall appoint, the king will enrich us with great riches, and he will give him his daughter, and he will make his father's house free in Israel.

17.26 And David spake unto the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that smiteth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living Alhym?

17.27 And the people said to him after this manner, saying, Thus shall it be done to the man whom we shall name.

17.28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard him speak unto the men. and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why hast thou come down? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep? behold, in the wilderness I know thy wickedness, and the evil of thine heart. for thou camest down to see the battle.

17.29 And David said, What have I done now? Is it not a matter?

17.30 And he turned from him to another, and spake after this manner. and the people answered him according to the first word.

17.31 And when the words which David spake were heard, they told them before Saul, and he took him.

17.32 And David said unto Saul, Let not the heart of any man fail, that thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

17.33 And Saul said unto 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, one of the youths.

17.34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant used to keep the sheep for his father, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock.

17.35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered him out of his mouth. but he arose against me, and I took hold of his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

17.36 Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine is like one of them, for he has defied the counsel of the living Alhym.

17.37 And David said, YHVH 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 YHVH be with thee.

17.38 And Saul arrayed David with his garments, and put a helmet of brass upon his head, and armed him with a coat of mail.

17.39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and refused to go, because he had not tried it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these, because I have not tried it. And David turned from him.

17.40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five stones out of the brook, and put them in the sling which he had, and smote it with his hand, and drew near unto the Philistine.

17.41 And the Philistine drew near to David, and the man carried a spear before him.

17.42 And the Philistine looked and saw David, and disdained him. for he was but a youth, ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

17.43 And the Philistine said unto David, I am a dog, that thou comest to me with staves. And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

17.44 And the Philistine said unto David, Come unto me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

17.45 And David said to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin. but I come to thee in the name of YHVH of hosts, the Alhym of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

17.46 This day YHVH will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and take your head off you, and I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a Alhym in Israel.

17.47 And all this assembly shall know that YHVH saveth not with sword and spear. for the battle is YHVH'S, and he hath given you into our hand.

17.48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet David, that David hasted, and ran into the battle against the Philistine.

17.49 And David put his hand into his bag, and took thence a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the ground.

17.50 And 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.

17.51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. and the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, and they fled.

17.52 And the men of Israel and Judah arose, and pursued after the Philistines unto the entering in of the valley, even unto the gates of Ekron. and the slain of the Philistines fell by the way of Shearim, even unto Gath, even unto Ekron.

17.53 And the children of Israel went out from the Philistines, and pursued them, and pitched their tents.

17.54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem, and his armour, and put it in his tent.

17.55 And when Saul saw David, he went out to meet the Philistine, and said to Abner, the captain of the host, Whose son is this young man? Abner. And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, if I know.

17.56 And the king said, Ask, whose son is this young man?

17.57 And when 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.

17.58 And Saul said unto him, Whose son art thou, the youth? And David said, The son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

18.1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

18.2 And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his father's house.

18.3 And Jonathan and David made a covenant, and he loved him as his own soul.

18.4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and to his armour, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

18.5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and prospered. and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

18.6 And it came to pass, when David was come again from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, and the sick, to meet king Saul with tambourines, and with joy, and with songs of joy.

18.7 And the women that played the game answered and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

18.8 And Saul was very angry, and the thing displeased him, and said, They have ascribed to David tens of thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; and he shall have but the kingdom.

18.9 And Saul persecuted David from that day forward.

18.10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from Alhym came upon Saul, and he prophesied within the house. and David played with his hand as he went, and the spear was in Saul's hand.

18.11 And Saul cast the spear, and said, I will smite David even to the wall. and David turned away from him twice.

18.12 And Saul saw from David that YHVH was with him, and that he was departed from Saul.

18.13 And Saul removed him from among the people, and made him his captain over a thousand. and he went out and came before the people.

18.14 And David prospered in all his ways, and YHVH was with him.

18.15 And Saul saw that he was very wise, and he fled from him.

18.16 And all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

18.17 And Saul said unto David, Behold, my daughter is the eldest, and I will give her to thee to wife. but I will have a son that is valiant, and fight the battles of YHVH. And Saul said, Let not thine hand be upon him; but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18.18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is the life of my father's house in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?

18.19 And it came to pass at the time, that Merab the daughter of Saul was given to David, and she gave him to Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

18.20 And Michal the daughter of Saul loved David. and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

18.21 And Saul said, I will give him her, and she shall be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines shall be upon him. And Saul said unto David, Thou shalt be my wife this day.

18.22 And Saul commanded his servant to speak to David openly, saying, Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you. therefore now be thou the king's wife.

18.23 And Saul's servants spake these words in the ears of David. And David said, A man of little worth in your eyes is become the king's wife, and I am a man of little worth and little worth.

18.24 And Saul's servants told him, saying, Thus spake David.

18.25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not to hasten, but to be avenged of the king's enemies with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. and Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

18.26 And his servants told David these things. and the thing pleased David to be the king's wife. but the days were not fulfilled.

18.27 And David arose, and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men. And David brought their foreskins, and brought them to the king, to be the king's wife. and Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

18.28 And Saul saw and knew that YHVH was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

18.29 And Saul sought to beware of David again. and Saul hated David continually.

18.30 And YHVHs of the Philistines went out. and it came to pass, as they went out, that David was more excellent than all the servants of Saul; and his name was esteemed very highly.

19.1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, to kill David. and Jonathan Saul's son loved David very much.

19.2 And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee. now therefore, I pray thee, be on thy guard until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself.

19.3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak of you to my father, and I will see what I have seen, and I will tell you.

19.4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant David. for he hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good unto thee.

19.5 And he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and YHVH wrought a great salvation for all Israel. thou sawest it, and rejoiced. and why wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

19.6 And Saul heard the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, As YHVH liveth, he shall surely be put to death.

19.7 Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was before him as before the day before.

19.8 And the war increased, and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter. and they fled before him.

19.9 And the evil spirit of YHVH came upon Saul, as he sat in his house, with his spear in his hand. and David played with his hand.

19.10 And Saul sought to smite David with the spear, and the wall. but he slipped away from before Saul, and smote the spear into the wall. and David fled, and escaped that night.

19.11 And Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, and to slay him in the morning. And Michal his wife told David, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

19.12 And Michal let David down through the window. and he went and fled, and escaped.

19.13 And Michal took the teraphim, and put them on the table, and the goats' head she put at the head thereof, and covered it with a cloth.

19.14 And Saul sent messengers to take David, saying, He is sick.

19.15 And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me with the staff, that I may slay him.

19.16 And the angels came, and behold, the cherubim fell upon the table, and the great goats were at its head.

19.17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me thus, and sent away my enemy? And he fled. And Michal said unto Saul, He said unto me, Send me away; why should I kill thee?

19.18 And 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 Benaith.

19.19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is besieged in Ramah.

19.20 And Saul sent messengers to take David. and he saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing over them. and the Spirit of Alhym came upon Saul's messengers, and they also prophesied.

19.21 And they told Saul, and he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul made an end of sending thirty messengers, and they also prophesied.

19.22 And he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Shechem, and asked, and said, Where are Samuel and David? And he said, Behold, it is built in Ramah.

19.23 And he went thence to Naioth in Ramah. and the Spirit of Alhym came upon him also. and he went on, and prophesied, until they came to Naioth in Ramah.

19.24 And he also stripped off his clothes, and prophesied before Samuel, and fell down naked all that day and all that night. therefore they said, Saul also is their prophet.

20.1 Then David fled from Manoah in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?

20.2 And he said unto him, Alhym forbid that thou shalt not die. behold, if my father do something great or small, and he will not shew it unto me. and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.

20.3 And David swore again, and said, Thy father knoweth well that I have found grace in thy sight. And he said, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. but as YHVH liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is as it were a transgression between me and death.

20.4 And Jonathan said unto David, What sayest thou? and I will do thee?

20.5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should sit with the king to eat. and thou hast sent me away, and I will hide myself in the field until the third evening.

20.6 If your father should come and see me, and say, "I have asked David to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family,"

20.7 If he thus saith good, Peace be unto thy servant; but if he be angry, he be angry with him, know that evil is departed from him.

20.8 And thou shalt shew kindness unto thy servant. for in the covenant of YHVH thou hast brought thy servant with thee. and if there be iniquity in me, slay me thou, and thy father also. why hast thou brought me thus?

20.9 And Jonathan said, Alhym forbid that thou shouldest. for if he knew, I would know that evil is determined by my father to come upon thee; and thou wouldest not tell it thee.

20.10 And David said unto Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what shall thy father answer thee roughly?

20.11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they both went out into the field.

20.12 And Jonathan said unto David, O YHVH Alhym of Israel, I will sound my father about this time to morrow the third day. and, behold, it is well with David. but if not, then will I send unto thee, and discover thine ears?

20.13 YHVH do so to Jonathan, and more also, if my father does evil to you, and I have heard your voice, and sent you away, that you may go in peace; and YHVH be with you, as he was with my father.

20.14 And if I am still alive, and you do not show me the kindness of YHVH, I will not die.

20.15 And you will not cut off your kindness from my people forever, nor will you cut off the enemies of David from the face of the earth.

20.16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. and YHVH required it of the hand of David's enemies.

20.17 And Jonathan made David swear by his love for him, because he loved him as his own soul loved him.

20.18 And Jonathan said unto him, Tomorrow is a new moon, and thou shalt be numbered, for thy seat shall be numbered.

20.19 And the third time you shall go down very far, and come to the place where you hid yourself on the day of the deed, and you shall sit by the stone that was laid waste.

20.20 And I, the three arrows, hunted for light to send to my target

20.21 And, behold, I will send the lad unto thee, find the arrows. If he say, "Behold, the arrows are with thee," then say unto the lad, "Behold, the arrows are with thee; behold, we have taken them, and come; for peace is with thee, and there is nothing, as YHVH liveth."

20.22 And if he thus saith unto Elam, Behold, the arrows are upon thee; go thee hence; for YHVH hath sent thee away.

20.23 And as for the matter which thou and I have spoken, behold, YHVH is between me and thee for ever.

20.24 And David hid himself in the field. and it was the new moon, and the king sat down to eat bread.

20.25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, by the seat of the wall. and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and took David's place.

20.26 And Paul said nothing that day, but said, It is an accident, he is unclean, for he is not clean.

20.27 And it came to pass on the morrow of the second month, that when David was come to the place, Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Why cometh not the son of Jesse to the meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?

20.28 And Jonathan answered Saul, saying, David is come from Bethlehem.

20.29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for we have a family sacrifice in the city, and he hath commanded me my brother. and now, if I have found grace in thy sight, let me escape, I pray thee, and see my brother. Therefore came he not to the king's feast.

20.30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a rebellious man, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to cover yourself and to uncover your mother's nakedness?"

20.31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he is a son of death.

20.32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Why should he be put to death? What hath he done?

20.33 And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him. and Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

20.34 Then Jonathan rose up from the table in a fierce anger, and did not eat bread on the second day of the month, for he was angry with David, because his father had spoken against him.

20.35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field to meet David, and a little lad with him.

20.36 And he said to his servant, Run, find now the arrows which I have pointed to. The servant ran, and he shot half of them beyond the mark.

20.37 And the lad came to the place of the halfling which Jonathan had shot. and Jonathan called after the lad, and said, Is not the halfling beyond thee?

20.38 And Jonathan called after the lad, Haste, O Hosah, stand not still. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the half, and brought it to his master.

20.39 And the lad knew nothing. but Jonathan and David knew the thing.

20.40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy who was with him, and said to him, Go, bring them into the city.

20.41 The boy came and David arose from the Negev, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times, and they watered one another, and wept one with another, until David had grown old.

20.42 And Jonathan said unto David, Go in peace, as we have sworn both of us in the name of YHVH, saying, YHVH shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.

21.1 And he arose and departed, and Jonathan came into the city.

21.2 And David came to Neba to Ahimelech the priest. and Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

21.3 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "Command me, the king, and I will send you." And he said to me, "Let no man know anything about the matter where I send you, and where I have commanded you and the young men, and I know that you are going to such and such a place, which I do not know."

21.4 And now what have you under your hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or I will give you what is found.

21.5 And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is holy bread. if the young men have kept themselves from a woman,

21.6 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, If a woman have kept us as before, when I went out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and it is a way of the wicked, and yet today shall be sanctified with vessels.

21.7 And the priest gave him holy bread. for there was no bread there, but the shewbread, that was presented before YHVH, to put on hot bread in the day that they took it.

21.8 And there was a man of Saul's servants that day taken before YHVH, whose name was Doug the Adamite, a captain of the wicked that were with Saul.

21.9 And David said to Ahimelech, "And there is neither spear nor sword under thine hand here. for I have not taken either my sword or my weapons in mine hand, because the king's command was urgent."

21.10 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou smote in the valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapped in a garment behind the ephod. if thou wilt take it, take it for thyself; for there is none other like it. And David said, There is none like it; give it me.

21.11 And David arose and fled that day from Saul, and came to Achish king of Gath.

21.12 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? should they not answer him with evil words, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

21.13 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish king of Gath.

21.14 And he changed his taste in their eyes, and glorified himself in their hands, and they struck the doors of the gate, and his saliva ran down his beard.

21.15 And Achish said unto his servants, Behold, ye see a man that is mad. wherefore have ye brought him unto me?

21.16 I am without a madman, for you have brought this one to be mad at me. This one will come to my house.

22.1 Then David departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam. and his brethren and all his father's house heard thereof, and they went down thither to him.

22.2 And every man that was in distress, and every man that was in distress, and every man that was in bitterness of soul, gathered themselves unto him. and he became their ruler. and there were with him about four hundred men.

22.3 And David departed thence from the plain of Moab, and said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come out with thee, until I know what Alhym will do for me.

22.4 And he comforted the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the days that David was in the hold.

22.5 And Gad the prophet said unto David, Abide not in the hold; go thou, and go into the land of Judah. ​​And David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

22.6 And Saul heard that David and the men that were with him were known. and Saul abode in the hill under the oak in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants stood by him.

22.7 Then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Listen, you sons of my right hand! The son of Jesse will also give all of you fields and vineyards, and will appoint captains of thousands and captains of hundreds for you.

22.8 For ye are all joined together against me, and mine ear is not told, that I have cut off the son of Am the son of Jesse. and none of you is against me, that I have heard. for my son hath set up my servant Eli to lie in wait this day.

22.9 And Dag the Edomite answered and said, And he stood over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse come to Neba to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

22.10 And he inquired of YHVH, and he gave him a spear, and he gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

22.11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Neb. and they all came to the king.

22.12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahithophel. And he said, Here am I, my lord.

22.13 And Saul said, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse? In giving him bread and a sword, and in asking Alhym for him, that he should rise up against me to lie in wait as this day.

22.14 And Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, and the king's son-in-law, and cometh unto thee, and is honourable in thine house?

22.15 Today I began to ask him by Alhym, may the king not do anything to his servant in all my father's house, for your servant does not know anything small or great.

22.16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

22.17 And the king said unto the runners that stood about him, Turn about, and slay the priests of YHVH. for their hand is also with David. and if they knew that he fled, and told it not, neither would the king's servants put forth their hand to smite the priests of YHVH.

22.18 And the king said to Doig the son of Adam, Turn thou round, and smite the priests. And Doig the son of Adam turned, and smote the priests. and there died that day eighty and five men that wore a linen ephod.

22.19 And Neb, the city of the priests, he smote with the sword, both man and woman, both infant and suckling, and ox, and ass, and sheep, with the sword.

22.20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, whose name was Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

22.21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain the priests of YHVH.

22.22 And David said to Abiathar, I knew that day that there was a fisherman in the city of Adam, for Haggai would say to Saul, "I am the father of all the souls of your father's house."

22.23 Return to me, fear not. for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life. for thou art a watchman with me.

23.1 And it was told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors.

23.2 And David inquired of YHVH, saying, Go, and smite these Philistines. And YHVH said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

23.3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. how much more if we go to Keilah unto the armies of the Philistines?

23.4 And David inquired yet again of YHVH. and YHVH answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah. for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

23.5 Then David went and destroyed Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and drove them away, and slew them with a great slaughter. and David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

23.6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he had an ephod in his hand.

23.7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, Alhym hath delivered him into mine hand. for the gates and bars are shut to enter into the city.

23.8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah of Tyre, to David and to his men.

23.9 And David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod.

23.10 And David said, O YHVH Alhym of Israel, hearken unto thy servant. for Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

23.11 The master of Keilah has delivered me into his hand, and Saul has gone down, as your servant has heard, O YHVH Alhym of Israel, tell your servant, and he will say, "YHVH has gone down."

23.12 And David said, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And YHVH said, They will deliver me.

23.13 And David arose, he and his men, about six hundred men, and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they went. and Saul told them that David was fled out of Keilah, and ceased to go out.

23.14 And David abode in the wilderness of Masadath, and he abode in the mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. and Saul sought him all the days, but Alhym delivered him not into his hand.

23.15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life. and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

23.16 Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in Alhym.

23.17 And he said unto him, Fear not. for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee. and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I will be thy second. And Saul my father knoweth also that.

23.18 And they two made a covenant before YHVH. and David abode in the grove, and Jonathan went unto his house.

23.19 And the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeatha, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in the strongholds, in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the right hand of the hill?

23.20 And now, according to all that the king desires, come down, and let us deliver him into the king's hand.

23.21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of YHVH, for ye have had mercy on me.

23.22 Go, prepare further, and know and see his place, where his foot will be. Who has seen him there, that he said to me, "Naked, I will cover him with shame?"

23.23 And see and know of all the hiding places where he hides himself there, and return unto me in truth, and I will go with you. and it shall come to pass, if he sleep in the land, that I will search for him throughout all the thousands of Judah.

23.24 And Zipporah arose and went before Saul and David and his men into the wilderness of Maon, in the plain, to the right of the Jordan.

23.25 And Saul and his men went to seek, and told David. and the rock went down, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. and Saul heard thereof, and pursued after David unto the wilderness of Maon.

23.26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain. And David made haste to go from before Saul. and Saul and his men sought David and his men to take them.

23.27 And an angel came to Saul, saying, Haste, and be gone. for the Philistines have invaded the land.

23.28 And Saul pursued David, and went against the Philistines. therefore they called that place The rock of divisions.

24.1 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of En Gedi.

24.2 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that they told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.

24.3 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men by the goatherds.

24.4 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, and there was a cave. and Saul went in to cool his feet. but David and his men abode in the back of the cave.

24.5 And David's men said unto him, Behold, this is the day of which YHVH spake unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemies into thine hand, that thou mayest do to them as it shall seemeth good unto thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's garment that was upon him.

24.6 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the wing of Saul.

24.7 And he said unto his men, YHVH forbid it me, that I should do this thing unto my lord, YHVH'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him; for he is YHVH'S anointed.

24.8 And David dissuaded his men with words, and suffered them not to rise up against Saul. and Saul arose out of the cave, and went on his way.

24.9 Then David arose after that, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him, and David bowed his head with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

24.10 And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of a man, saying, Behold, David seeks your harm?

24.11 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen that YHVH hath delivered thee this day into my hand in the cave. and I said, I would have slain thee; but he spared thee. and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is YHVH'S anointed.

24.12 And my father saw also, and saw the corner of thy robe in my hand, that I took the corner of thy robe, and slew thee not. know and see that there is no wickedness or transgression in mine hand, neither have I sinned against thee, and thou huntest down my life to take it.

24.13 YHVH judge between me and thee, and YHVH avenge me of thee, but my hand shall not be upon thee.

24.14 As the proverb of old says, "A wicked man will come forth from the wicked, but my hand will not be upon you."

24.15 After whom did the king of Israel come out? After whom did you chase after a dead dog, after a single flea?

24.16 And YHVH be judge, and judge between me and thee; and he shall see, and multiply my cause, and avenge me of thine hand.

24.17 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, This is the son of David. And Saul took up his staff, and wept.

24.18 And he said unto David, Thou art more righteous than I. for thou hast rewarded me good, and I have rewarded thee evil.

24.19 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, how YHVH delivered me into your hand and did not kill me.

24.20 And if a man find his enemy, and send him away in a good way, then YHVH will reward you with good for this day, which you have done for me.

24.21 And now, behold, I know that thou shalt reign, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

24.22 Now therefore swear to me by YHVH that you will cut off my seed after me, and that you will blot out my name from my father's house.

24.23 And David swore to Saul. and Saul went to his house. but David and his men went up to the hold.

25.1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

25.2 And there was a man that dwelt in Carmel, and his business was in Carmel. and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats. and he sheared his sheep in Carmel.

25.3 And the man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail, and the woman was of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance. but the man was harsh and evil in his doings, and he was his dog.

25.4 And David heard in the wilderness that a certain man had sheared his sheep.

25.5 Then David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, Go up to Carmel, and come to Nabal, and greet him in my name.

25.6 And you said, "I live, and you are in peace, and your house is in peace, and all that you have is in peace."

25.7 And now I have heard that the wicked men who were with us are being cut down for you. They were not slain, nor were we deprived of anything all the time they were in Carmel.

25.8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you, and the young men will find favor in your sight, for on the day of our son's good fortune, give, I pray you, whatever you find to your servants and to your son David.

25.9 And David's young men came and spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and they were at peace.

25.10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants this day, every one rebelling against his master.

25.11 And I took my bread, and my water, and my meat which I had killed for my shearing, and gave it unto men, whom I knew not whence they were.

25.12 And David's young men turned their way, and returned, and came and told him all these words.

25.13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye every man his sword. And David also girded on his sword. And there went up after David about four hundred men, and two hundred sat upon the vessels.

25.14 And one of the young men told Abigail Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our master, and he smote them.

25.15 And the people were very good to us, and we did not complain or complain of anything, all the days that we went with them, while we were in the field.

25.16 They were a wall to us both night and day, all the days that we were with them, shepherding the flock.

25.17 Now therefore know and see what thou wilt do. for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house; and he is a son of Belial, that speaketh unto him.

25.18 And Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves of bread, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep set on the fat, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred raisins, and two hundred shekels of barley, and laid them upon the asses.

25.19 And she said unto her young women, Go on before me. behold, I come after you. and she told not the woman Nabal.

25.20 And it came to pass, as she rode upon the ass, that she came down secretly from the mountain. and, behold, David and his men came down to meet her; and she met them.

25.21 And David said, Surely it is a lie. I have kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, and there was not lacking of all that was his. and he returned me evil for good.

25.22 So may Alhym do to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him until morning, that he may urinate upon the wall.

25.23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the earth.

25.24 And she fell at his feet, and said, I am the master of iniquity. and now, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear the words of thy servant.

25.25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, set his heart upon this scoundrel, even upon Nabal. for as his name is, so is his name, and he shall be a scoundrel with him. and I thy servant saw not the servants of my lord, whom thou didst send.

25.26 And now, as my lord YHVH liveth, and as thy soul liveth, which YHVH hath kept thee from coming into blood, and thine hand hath been delivered thee. and now thine enemies, and they that seek evil unto my lord, shall be as the slain.

25.27 And now this blessing which your handmaid has brought to my lord, she has given to the young men who follow my lord's feet.

25.28 Please forgive the transgression of your servant, for YHVH has made a faithful house for my lord. For YHVH fights the battles of YHVH, and evil will not be found in you all your days.

25.29 And if a man rise up to pursue thee, to seek thy life, then shall the soul of my lord be bound in the bundle of the living with YHVH thy Alhym, and the soul of thine enemies shall he snared in the pit of the sling.

25.30 And it shall come to pass, when YHVH shall do unto my lord according to all that he hath spoken, that he shall do good unto thee, and shall appoint thee governor over Israel.

25.31 And it shall not be for thee to be a cause of trouble, nor a stumbling block to my lord, nor to shed blood without cause, nor to save my lord his own life. and YHVH shall be good unto my lord, and thou shalt remember thy truth.

25.32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be YHVH Alhym of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me.

25.33 And blessed be thy taste, and blessed be that which thou hast consumed me this day from coming into blood, and hast kept my hand from me.

25.34 But as YHVH Alhym of Israel liveth, who hath kept me from doing thee evil. for if thou hadst not hasted and come to meet me, surely by morning light the scoundrel had urinated upon the wall.

25.35 And David took from her what she had brought him, and said unto her, Peace be unto thy house, behold, I have heard thy voice, and will honor thy face.

25.36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. and Nabal's heart was merry with him. and he was very drunken. And she told him nothing, great or small, until the morning light.

25.37 And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of the bottle, that his wife told him these things. and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

25.38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that YHVH smote Nabal, that he died.

25.39 And David heard that Nabal was dead, and he said, Blessed be YHVH, who hath avenged my reproach by the hand of Nabal, and hath delivered his servant from the hand of the shepherd. and YHVH hath returned the evil of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and spake of Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

25.40 And David's servants came to Abigail of Carmel, and spake unto her, saying, David hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

25.41 And she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, Behold, thine handmaid, let her be a maid to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

25.42 And Abigail hasted and arose, and rode upon an ass, and her five damsels that followed her, and went after David's messengers, and became his wife.

25.43 And David took Ahinoam the Mizraimite, and they also became his two wives.

25.44 And Saul gave Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who is called

26.1 And the Zephites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in Gibeah of the Wise, which is before Jeshimon?

26.2 Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

26.3 And Saul pitched in Gibeah of the Wise, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. but David abode in the wilderness. and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

26.4 And David sent out spies, and learned that Saul had come to the right place.

26.5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched. and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host. and Saul lay in a circle, and the people pitched round about him.

26.6 Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul into the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

26.7 And David and Abishai came to the people by night. and, behold, Saul lay sleeping in a place, and his spear stuck in the ground at his head. and Abner and the people lay round about him.

26.8 And Abishai said unto David, Alhym hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day. now therefore let me smite thee with the spear and with the earth this once, and I will not turn again unto him.

26.9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not. for who can stretch out his hand against YHVH's anointed, and cleanse him?

26.10 And David said, As YHVH liveth, surely YHVH shall smite him, or his day shall come, and he shall die, or he shall go down into battle, and perish.

26.11 YHVH forbid that I should stretch out my hand against YHVH's anointed. now therefore take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

26.12 And David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head, and they went away. And no one saw, no one knew, no one knew, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from YHVH had fallen upon them.

26.13 And David went over, and stood on the top of the mountain, a great space between them.

26.14 Then David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will Abner not answer?" And Abner answered and said, "Who are you that calls to the king?"

26.15 And David said to Abner, Art thou not a man? and who is like thee in Israel? and why hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for one of the people came to destroy thy lord the king.

26.16 This thing that ye have done is not good, as YHVH liveth. for ye are worthy of death, because ye have not kept your lord YHVH'S anointed. and now behold the king's spear, and the cruse of water that was at his head.

26.17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, My voice, my lord the king.

26.18 And he said, Why doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? and what evil is in mine hand?

26.19 Now therefore, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. Has YHVH moved you against me? Or are men cursed before YHVH? For they have driven me out this day from entering into the inheritance of YHVH, saying, "Serve other gods."

26.20 Now therefore let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of YHVH. for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as one hunteth a hawk in the mountains.

26.21 And Saul said, I have sinned this time, O son of David. for I will not be found again in thy sight, where my life is precious in thy sight this day. behold, I have erred, and have erred greatly.

26.22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear. And one of the young men ran over, and took it.

26.23 And YHVH shall render unto every man his righteousness, and his trust, which YHVH hath delivered into thine hand this day. but I would not stretch forth mine hand against YHVH'S anointed.

26.24 And, behold, as thy soul was esteemed this day in my sight, so shall my soul be esteemed in the sight of YHVH, and he shall deliver me out of all tribulation.

26.25 And Saul said unto David, Blessed art thou, O son of David. both thou shalt do, and shalt be able to do. And David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

27.1 And David said in his heart, Now is the day when I shall be saved from the hand of Saul. there is no good for me, that I should escape into the land of the Philistines. and Saul despaireth of me, to seek me any more in all the coasts of Israel; and I shall escape out of his hand.

27.2 Then David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, unto Achish the son of Maoch king of Gath.

27.3 And David dwelt with Achish in Gibeah, he and his men, every man with his house, David, and his two wives Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

27.4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath, and he sought him no more.

27.5 And David said to Achish, If now I have found favor in your sight, let them give me a place in one of the country cities, that I may dwell there. for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?

27.6 And Achish gave him Ziklag that day. therefore Ziklag belongeth to the kings of Judah unto this day.

27.7 And the number of the days that David abode in the country of the Philistines was four days and four months.

27.8 And David and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites. for these are the inhabitants of the land, from the entering in of Shur unto the land of Egypt.

27.9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive. and he took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

27.10 And Achish said, Ye shall not make a raid this day. And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

27.11 And David shall not let man or woman live, to bring them to Gath, lest they say of us, saying, Thus did David, and thus was his judgment, all the days that he dwelt in the country of the Philistines.

27.12 And Achish believed David, saying, The shame of the shame of his people Israel shall be mine, and he shall be my servant for ever.

28.1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together to fight against Israel. and Achish said unto David, Know thou, that thou shalt go out with me into the camp, thou and thy men.

28.2 And David said to Achish, Therefore you shall know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore keep watch over me; I will put you in charge forever.

28.3 And Samuel died, and all Israel lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, and in his own city. and Saul removed the elders and the wise men out of the land.

28.4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem. and Saul gathered all Israel together, and pitched in Gilboa.

28.5 And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and his heart was greatly afraid.

28.6 And Saul inquired of YHVH. but YHVH answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by visions, nor by prophets.

28.7 And Saul said unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said unto him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit in En Dor.

28.8 Then Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and came to the woman by night. And he said, Enchant me, I pray thee, by divination, and bring up unto me that which he spake unto thee.

28.9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how that thou hast cut off my fathers and my mother's children from the earth. and why seekest thou my life, to kill me?

28.10 And Saul sware unto her by YHVH, saying, As YHVH liveth, there shall be no iniquity in this thing.

28.11 And the woman said, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring up Samuel unto me.

28.12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice. and the woman said unto Saul, Why hast thou deceived me? and thou Saul?

28.13 And the king said unto her, Fear not. for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, O Alhym, I saw leaves out of the earth.

28.14 And he said unto her, What is thy countenance? And she said, An old man came up, and he was clothed with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed his head with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

28.15 And Samuel said unto Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul said, I am sore distressed; and the Philistines make war against me, and Alhym is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. and I will call unto thee, that thou mayest tell me what I shall do.

28.16 And Samuel said, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing YHVH is departed from thee, and is become a reproach?

28.17 And YHVH shall do to him as he spake by mine hand. for YHVH hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, to David.

28.18 Because you did not obey the voice of YHVH and did not carry out his fierce anger against Amalek, therefore YHVH has done this thing to you this day.

28.19 And YHVH shall deliver Israel also thy people into the hand of the Philistines. and to morrow thou and thy sons with my people, YHVH shall deliver the camp of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.

28.20 Then Saul made haste, and fell all his face to the ground, and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel. neither was there strength in him. for he had eaten no bread all that day, nor all that night.

28.21 And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was greatly afraid, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I will put my life in my hand, and hearken unto thy words which thou hast spoken unto me.

28.22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee, that thou mayest eat, and that thou mayest have strength to go thy way.

28.23 But he denied, and said, I will not eat. And his servants, and also his wife, pressed upon him. And when he heard their words, he arose from the earth, and returned to his seat.

28.24 And the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she hasted and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread of it.

28.25 And she came before Saul and before his servants; and they ate, and rose up, and went that night.

29.1 Now the Philistines gathered all their armies together at Aphek, and Israel encamped at Ain which is in Jezreel.

29.2 And the captains of the Philistines passed over by hundreds and by thousands. and David and his men passed over in the rear with Achish.

29.3 And the princes of the Philistines said, What are these Hebrews? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, which hath been with me these days or two years? and I have found nothing in him from the day that he fell unto this day.

29.4 And YHVHs of the Philistines were angry with him, and YHVHs of the Philistines said unto him, Make the man return, that he may return unto his place where ye have put him there. let him not go down with us to the battle, neither be he a devil unto us in the war. and how shall this man run to his master? but upon the heads of those men?

29.5 Is not this David, of whom they shall answer with afflictions, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

29.6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As YHVH liveth, thou hast been upright, and it is good in my sight that thou shouldest go out and come with me into the camp. for I have found no evil in thee from the day of thy coming unto me unto this day; neither doth the captains regard thee well.

29.7 Now therefore return, and go in peace, and do no harm to YHVHs of the Philistines.

29.8 And David said unto Achish, What have I done? and what have I found in thy servant from the day that I have been before thee unto this day, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

29.9 And Achish answered and said unto David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of Alhym. nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

29.10 Now therefore rise up early in the morning, and the servants of your lord who came with you, and you shall rise early in the morning, and have light, and go.

29.11 And David rose up early in the morning, he and his men, to go to return into the land of the Philistines. and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

30.1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the south, and upon Ziklag, and smote Ziklag, and burned it with fire.

30.2 And they took the women that were therein, both small and great, and slew none. and they departed, and went their way.

30.3 And David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters were taken captive.

30.4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep.

30.5 And David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.

30.6 And it grieved David greatly, because the people said unto him, All the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters. but David strengthened himself in YHVH his Alhym.

30.7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, Bring me, I pray thee, the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

30.8 And David inquired of YHVH, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? And he said unto him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake, and thou shalt surely escape.

30.9 And David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came as far as the brook Besor. and the rest stood still.

30.10 And David pursued, he and four hundred men. and two hundred men stayed behind, which were over the brook Besor.

30.11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat, and gave him water to drink.

30.12 And they gave him a piece of bread and two raisins, and he ate, and his spirit came again to him. for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.

30.13 And David said unto him, Whose art thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my lord hath left me, because I have been sick three days.

30.14 We have plundered the Negev of Kereth, and of that which pertaineth to Judah, and of the Negev of Caleb, and we have burned Ziklag with fire.

30.15 And David said unto him, Bring me down to this troop. And he said, Swear unto me by Alhym, that thou wilt kill me, and that thou wilt deliver me into the hand of my lord, and I will bring thee down to this troop.

30.16 And they went down, and, behold, they were spread abroad upon the face of all the land, eating and drinking, and rejoicing in all the great spoil which they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.

30.17 And David smote them from the evening of the feast until the evening of the next day; and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men that rode upon camels, and fled.

30.18 And David rescued all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives.

30.19 And there was nothing lacking to them, from the least to the greatest, from sons and daughters, from the spoil to all that they had taken. David restored everything.

30.20 And David took all the sheep and oxen, and drove them before that herd, and said, This is David's spoil.

30.21 And David came to the two hundred men who had slain David, and brought them back to the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David, and to the people that were with him. And David came near to the people, and saluted them.

30.22 Then answered every wicked and worthless man among the men that went with David, and said, Because they went not with me, I will not give them of the spoil that we have recovered, save every man his wife and his children. and they departed, and went.

30.23 And David said, Ye shall not do so, my brother, seeing that YHVH hath given us, and hath preserved us, and delivered the band that came against us into our hand.

30.24 And who will hearken unto this word of yours? For as the portion that goeth down to the battle, and as the portion that sitteth on the vessels, they shall divide it together.

30.25 And it came to pass from that day forward, that he established it for a statute and an ordinance in Israel unto this day.

30.26 And David came to Ziklag, and sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah his companions, saying, Behold, a blessing is for you of the spoil of the enemies of YHVH.

30.27 To confirm in Beit El and to confirm in Ramot Negev and to confirm in Betar

30.28 And to confirm with juniper, and to confirm with moustaches, and to confirm with ashtama.

30.29 And in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and in the cities of the Kenites,

30.30 And in the sanctuary, and in the pit of smoke, and in your time

30.31 And in Hebron, and in all the places where David and his men were wont to dwell,

31.1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel. and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

31.2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchijah, the sons of Saul.

31.3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers found him with bowmen. and he was sore afraid of the archers.

31.4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.

31.5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him.

31.6 And Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour, and all his men, that day together.

31.7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled. and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

31.8 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the Philistines came to strip the slain, and found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

31.9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about to publish the tidings of their grief, and of the people.

31.10 And they put his weapons in the house of Ashtoreth, and fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.

31.11 And the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul.

31.12 And all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the body of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and brought them down to the plain, and burned them there.

31.13 And they took their strength, and buried it under the ashel in the dry land, and fasted seven days.