Saul's selected band.

CHAP

XIII.

Samuel reproves him.

17 Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I 7 And some of the Hebrews went over will call unto the LORD, and he shall send Jordan_to the land of Gad and Gilead. thunder and rain; that ye may perceive As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all and see that your wickedness is great, the people followed him trembling. which ye have done in the sight of the 8¶ And he tarried seven days, accordLORD, in asking you a king. ing to the set time that Samuel had ap18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; pointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that and the people were scattered from him. day: and all the people greatly feared the 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burntLORD and Samuel. offering to me, and peace-offerings. And

19 And all the people said unto Samuel, he offered the burnt-offering, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as God, that we die not: for we have added he had made an end of offering the burntunto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul 20 ¶ And Samuel said unto the people, went out to meet him, that he might salute Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: him.

yet turn not aside from following the LORD, 11 ¶ And Samuel said, What hast thou but serve the LORD with all your heart; done? And Saul said, Because I saw that 21 And turn ye not aside: for then the people were scattered from me, and should ye go after vain things, which can- that thou camest not within the days apnot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. pointed, and that the Philistines gathered 22 For the LORD will not forsake his themselves together at Michmash; people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that LORD: I forced myself therefore, and ofI should sin against the LORD in ceasing to fered a burnt-offering.

pray for you: but I will teach you the 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast good and the right way: done foolishly thou hast not kept the 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him commandment of the LORD thy God, in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king. CHAP. XIII.

which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue the LORD hath sought him a man SAUL reigned one year; and when he after his own heart, and the LORD hath had reigned two years over Israel, commanded him to be captain over his 2 Saul chose him three thousand men of people, because thou hast not kept that Israel; whereof two thousand were with which the LORD commanded thee. Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, 15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up and a thousand were with Jonathan in from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the And Saul numbered the people that were people he sent every man to his tent. present with him, about six hundred men. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the Philistines that was in Geba; and the the people that were present with them, Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the the trumpet throughout all the land, say-Philistines encamped in Michmash. ing, Let the Hebrews hear. 17 ¶ And the spoilers came out of the

4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had camp of the Philistines in three companies: smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and one company turned unto the way that that Israel also was had in abomination leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: with the Philistines: and the people were 18 And another company turned the called together after Saul to Gilgal. way to Beth-horon: and another company 5 And the Philistines gathered them- turned to the way of the border that lookselves together to fight with Israel, thirty eth to the valley of Zeboim toward the thousand chariots, and six thousand horse- wilderness. men, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: (for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:)

6 When the men of Israel saw that they 20 But all the Israelites went down to were in a strait (for the people were dis- the Philistines, to sharpen every man his tressed) then the people did hide them- share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his selves in caves, and in thickets, and in mattock. rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks,

Jonathan miraculously smites

1. SAMUEL. the garrison of the Philistines. and for the coulters, and for the forks, and 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. hands and upon his feet, and his armour22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathat there was neither sword nor spear than; and his armour-bearer slew after found in the hand of any of the people that him."

were with Saul and Jonathan: but with 14 And that first slaughter, which JonaSaul and with Jonathan his son was there than and his armour-bearer made, was found. about twenty men, within as it were a

23 And the garrison of the Philistines half-acre of land, which a yoke of oxen went out to the passage of Micomash. might plough. 15 And there was trembling in the host,

CHAP. XIV.

NOW it came to pass upon a day, that in the field, and among all the people: the Jonathan the son of Saul said unto garrison, and the spoilers, they also tremthe young man that bare his armour, Come, bled, and the earth quaked: so it was a and let us go over to the Philistines' garri- very great trembling.

son that is on the other side. But he told 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah not his father. of Benjamin looked; and behold, the mul2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part titude melted away, and they went on of Gibeah under a pomegranate-tree which beating down one another. is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

3 And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

17 Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God 4 T And between the passages by which was at that time with the children of Israel. Jonathan sought to go over unto the Phi- 19 And it came to pass while Saul listines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on talked unto the priest, that the noise that the one side, and a sharp rock on the other was in the host of the Philistines went on, side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and increased: and Saul said unto the and the name of the other Seneh. priest, Withdraw thy hand.

5 The forefront of the one was situate 20 And Saul and all the people that northward over against Michmash, and the were with him assembled themselves, and other southward over against Gibeah. they came to the battle: and behold, every 6 And Jonathan said to the young man man's sword was against his fellow, and that bare his armour, Come, and let us go there was a very great discomfiture. over unto the garrison of these uncircum-21 Moreover, the Hebrews that were cised: it may be that the LORD will work with the Philistines before that time, which for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD went up with them into the camp from to save by many or by few. the country round about, even they also 7 And his armour-bearer said unto him, turned to be with the Israelites that were Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee; be- with Saul ad Jonathan.

hold, I am with thee according to thy heart. 22 Likewise all the men of Israel which 8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, pass over unto these men, and we will dis- when they heard that the Philistines fled, cover ourselves unto them. even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: n our place, and will not go up unto them. and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven. 10 But if they say thus, Come up unto 24 And the men of Israel were disus; then we will go up: for the LORD hath tressed that day: for Saul had adjured the elivered them into our hand; and this people, saying, Cursed be the man that shall be a sign unto us. eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the He- 25 And all they of the land came to a brews come forth out of the holes where wood; and there was honey upon the they had hid themselves.

ground.

12 And the men of the garrison answer- 26 And when the people were come ed Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and into the wood, behold, the honey dropped: said, Come up to us, and we will shew you but no man put his hand to his mouth; for a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armour- the people feared the oath. bearer, Come up after me: for the LORD 27 But Jonathan heard not when his hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. father charged the people with the oath :