GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:9urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:9Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim , of mount Ephraim , and his name was Elkanah , the son of Jeroham , the son of Elihu , the son of Tohu , the son of Zuph , an Ephrathite : And he had two wives ; the name of the one was Hannah , and the name of the other Peninnah : and Peninnah had children , but Hannah had no children . And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh . And the two sons of Eli , Hophni and Phinehas , the priests of the LORD , were there . And when the time was that Elkanah offered , he gave to Peninnah his wife , and to all her sons and her daughters , portions : But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion ; for he loved Hannah : but the LORD had shut up her womb . And her adversary also provoked her sore , for to make her fret , because the LORD had shut up her womb . And as he did so year by year , when she went up to the house of the LORD , so she provoked her ; therefore she wept , and did not eat . Then said Elkanah her husband to her , Hannah , why weepest thou ? and why eatest thou not ? and why is thy heart grieved ? am not I better to thee than ten sons ? So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh , and after they had drunk . Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD . And she was in bitterness of soul , and prayed unto the LORD , and wept sore . And she vowed a vow , and said , O LORD of hosts , if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid , and remember me , and not forget thine handmaid , but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child , then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life , and there shall no rasor come upon his head . And it came to pass , as she continued praying before the LORD , that Eli marked her mouth . Now Hannah , she spake in her heart ; only her lips moved , but her voice was not heard : therefore Eli thought she had been drunken . And Eli said unto her , How long wilt thou be drunken ? put away thy wine from thee . And Hannah answered and said , No , my lord , I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit : I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink , but have poured out my soul before the LORD . Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial : for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto . Then Eli answered and said , Go in peace : and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him . And she said , Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight . So the woman went her way , and did eat , and her countenance was no more sad . And they rose up in the morning early , and worshipped before the LORD , and returned , and came to their house to Ramah : and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife ; and the LORD remembered her . Wherefore it came to pass , when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived , that she bare a son , and called his name Samuel , saying , Because I have asked him of the LORD . And the man Elkanah , and all his house , went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice , and his vow . But Hannah went not up ; for she said unto her husband , I will not go up until the child be weaned , and then I will bring him , that he may appear before the LORD , and there abide for ever . And Elkanah her husband said unto her , Do what seemeth thee good ; tarry until thou have weaned him ; only the LORD establish his word . So the woman abode , and gave her son suck until she weaned him . And when she had weaned him , she took him up with her , with three bullocks , and one ephah of flour , and a bottle of wine , and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh : and the child was young . And they slew a bullock , and brought the child to Eli . And she said , Oh my lord , as thy soul liveth , my lord , I am the woman that stood by thee here , praying unto the LORD . For this child I prayed ; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him : Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD ; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD . And he worshipped the LORD there . And Hannah prayed , and said , My heart rejoiceth in the LORD , mine horn is exalted in the LORD : my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies ; because I rejoice in thy salvation . There is none holy as the LORD : for there is none beside thee : neither is there any rock like our God . Talk no more so exceeding proudly ; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth : for the LORD is a God of knowledge , and by him actions are weighed . The bows of the mighty men are broken , and they that stumbled are girded with strength . They that were full have hired out themselves for bread ; and they that were hungry ceased : so that the barren hath born seven ; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble . The LORD killeth , and maketh alive : he bringeth down to the grave , and bringeth up . The LORD maketh poor , and maketh rich : he bringeth low , and lifteth up . He raiseth up the poor out of the dust , and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill , to set them among princes , and to make them inherit the throne of glory : for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's , and he hath set the world upon them . He will keep the feet of his saints , and the wicked shall be silent in darkness ; for by strength shall no man prevail . The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces ; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them : the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth ; and he shall give strength unto his king , and exalt the horn of his anointed . And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house . And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest . Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial ; they knew not the LORD . And the priests' custom with the people was , that , when any man offered sacrifice , the priest's servant came , while the flesh was in seething , with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand ; And he struck it into the pan , or kettle , or caldron , or pot ; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself . So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither . Also before they burnt the fat , the priest's servant came , and said to the man that sacrificed , Give flesh to roast for the priest ; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee , but raw . And if any man said unto him , Let them not fail to burn the fat presently , and then take as much as thy soul desireth ; then he would answer him , Nay ; but thou shalt give it me now : and if not , I will take it by force . Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD : for men abhorred the offering of the LORD . But Samuel ministered before the LORD , being a child , girded with a linen ephod . Moreover his mother made him a little coat , and brought it to him from year to year , when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice . And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife , and said , The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD . And they went unto their own home . And the LORD visited Hannah , so that she conceived , and bare three sons and two daughters . And the child Samuel grew before the LORD . Now Eli was very old , and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel ; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation . And he said unto them , Why do ye such things ? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people . Nay , my sons ; for it is no good report that I hear : ye make the LORD's people to transgress . If one man sin against another , the judge shall judge him : but if a man sin against the LORD , who shall intreat for him ? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father , because the LORD would slay them . And the child Samuel grew on , and was in favour both with the LORD , and also with men . And there came a man of God unto Eli , and said unto him , Thus saith the LORD , Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father , when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house ? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest , to offer upon mine altar , to burn incense , to wear an ephod before me ? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel ? Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering , which I have commanded in my habitation ; and honourest thy sons above me , to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people ? Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith , I said indeed that thy house , and the house of thy father , should walk before me for ever : but now the LORD saith , Be it far from me ; for them that honour me I will honour , and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed . Behold , the days come , that I will cut off thine arm , and the arm of thy father's house , that there shall not be an old man in thine house . And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation , in all the wealth which God shall give Israel : and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever . And the man of thine , whom I shall not cut off from mine altar , shall be to consume thine eyes , and to grieve thine heart : and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age . And this shall be a sign unto thee , that shall come upon thy two sons , on Hophni and Phinehas ; in one day they shall die both of them . And I will raise me up a faithful priest , that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind : and I will build him a sure house ; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever . And it shall come to pass , that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread , and shall say , Put me , I pray thee , into one of the priests' offices , that I may eat a piece of bread . And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli . And the word of the LORD was precious in those days ; there was no open vision . And it came to pass at that time , when Eli was laid down in his place , and his eyes began to wax dim , that he could not see ; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD , where the ark of God was , and Samuel was laid down to sleep ; That the LORD called Samuel : and he answered , Here am I . And he ran unto Eli , and said , Here am I ; for thou calledst me . And he said , I called not ; lie down again . And he went and lay down . And the LORD called yet again , Samuel . And Samuel arose and went to Eli , and said , Here am I ; for thou didst call me . And he answered , I called not , my son ; lie down again . Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD , neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him . And the LORD called Samuel again the third time . And he arose and went to Eli , and said , Here am I ; for thou didst call me . And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child . Therefore Eli said unto Samuel , Go , lie down : and it shall be , if he call thee , that thou shalt say , Speak , LORD ; for thy servant heareth . So Samuel went and lay down in his place . And the LORD came , and stood , and called as at other times , Samuel , Samuel . Then Samuel answered , Speak ; for thy servant heareth . And the LORD said to Samuel , Behold , I will do a thing in Israel , at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle . In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house : when I begin , I will also make an end . For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth ; because his sons made themselves vile , and he restrained them not . And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli , that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever . And Samuel lay until the morning , and opened the doors of the house of the LORD . And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision . Then Eli called Samuel , and said , Samuel , my son . And he answered , Here am I . And he said , What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee ? I pray thee hide it not from me : God do so to thee , and more also , if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee . And Samuel told him every whit , and hid nothing from him . And he said , It is the LORD : let him do what seemeth him good . And Samuel grew , and the LORD was with him , and did let none of his words fall to the ground . And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD . And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh : for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD . And the word of Samuel came to all Israel . Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle , and pitched beside Eben-ezer : and the Philistines pitched in Aphek . And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel : and when they joined battle , Israel was smitten before the Philistines : and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men . And when the people were come into the camp , the elders of Israel said , Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines ? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us , that , when it cometh among us , it may save us out of the hand of our enemies . So the people sent to Shiloh , that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts , which dwelleth between the cherubims : and the two sons of Eli , Hophni and Phinehas , were there with the ark of the covenant of God . And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp , all Israel shouted with a great shout , so that the earth rang again . And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout , they said , What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews ? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp . And the Philistines were afraid , for they said , God is come into the camp . And they said , Woe unto us ! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore . Woe unto us ! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods ? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness . Be strong , and quit yourselves like men , O ye Philistines , that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews , as they have been to you : quit yourselves like men , and fight . And the Philistines fought , and Israel was smitten , and they fled every man into his tent : and there was a very great slaughter ; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen . And the ark of God was taken ; and the two sons of Eli , Hophni and Phinehas , were slain . And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army , and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent , and with earth upon his head . And when he came , lo , Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching : for his heart trembled for the ark of God . And when the man came into the city , and told it , all the city cried out . And when Eli heard the noise of the crying , he said , What meaneth the noise of this tumult ? And the man came in hastily , and told Eli . Now Eli was ninety and eight years old ; and his eyes were dim , that he could not see . And the man said unto Eli , I am he that came out of the army , and I fled to day out of the army . And he said , What is there done , my son ? And the messenger answered and said , Israel is fled before the Philistines , and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people , and thy two sons also , Hophni and Phinehas , are dead , and the ark of God is taken . And it came to pass , when he made mention of the ark of God , that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate , and his neck brake , and he died : for he was an old man , and heavy . And he had judged Israel forty years . And his daughter in law , Phinehas' wife , was with child , near to be delivered : and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken , and that her father in law and her husband were dead , she bowed herself and travailed ; for her pains came upon her . And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her , Fear not ; for thou hast born a son . But she answered not , neither did she regard it . And she named the child I-chabod , saying , The glory is departed from Israel : because the ark of God was taken , and because of her father in law and her husband . And she said , The glory is departed from Israel : for the ark of God is taken . And the Philistines took the ark of God , and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod . When the Philistines took the ark of God , they brought it into the house of Dagon , and set it by Dagon . And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow , behold , Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD . And they took Dagon , and set him in his place again . And when they arose early on the morrow morning , behold , Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD ; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold ; only the stump of Dagon was left to him . Therefore neither the priests of Dagon , nor any that come into Dagon's house , tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day . But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod , and he destroyed them , and smote them with emerods , even Ashdod and the coasts thereof . And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so , they said , The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us : for his hand is sore upon us , and upon Dagon our god . They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them , and said , What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel ? And they answered , Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath . And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither . And it was so , that , after they had carried it about , the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction : and he smote the men of the city , both small and great , and they had emerods in their secret parts . Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron . And it came to pass , as the ark of God came to Ekron , that the Ekronites cried out , saying , They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us , to slay us and our people . So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines , and said , Send away the ark of the God of Israel , and let it go again to his own place , that it slay us not , and our people : for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city ; the hand of God was very heavy there . And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods : and the cry of the city went up to heaven . And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months . And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners , saying , What shall we do to the ark of the LORD ? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place . And they said , If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel , send it not empty ; but in any wise return him a trespass offering : then ye shall be healed , and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you . Then said they , What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him ? They answered , Five golden emerods , and five golden mice , according to the number of the lords of the Philistines : for one plague was on you all , and on your lords . Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods , and images of your mice that mar the land ; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel : peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you , and from off your gods , and from off your land . Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts , as the Egyptians and Pharoah hardened their hearts ? when he had wrought wonderfully among them , did they not let the people go , and they departed ? Now therefore make a new cart , and take two milch kine , on which there hath come no yoke , and tie the kine to the cart , and bring their calves home from them : And take the ark of the LORD , and lay it upon the cart ; and put the jewels of gold , which ye return him for a trespass offering , in a coffer by the side thereof ; and send it away , that it may go . And see , if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Beth-shemesh , then he hath done us this great evil : but if not , then we shall know that is not his hand that smote us ; it was a chance that happened to us . And the men did so ; and took two milch kine , and tied them to the cart , and shut up their calves at home : And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart , and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods . And the kine took the straight way to the way of Beth-shemesh , and went along the highway , lowing as they went , and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left ; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-shemesh . And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley : and they lifted up their eyes , and saw the ark , and rejoiced to see it . And the cart came into the field of Joshua , a Beth-shemite , and stood there , where there was a great stone : and they clave the wood of the cart , and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD . And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD , and the coffer that was with it , wherein the jewels of gold were , and put them on the great stone : and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD . And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it , they returned to Ekron the same day . And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD ; for Ashdod one , for Gaza one , for Askelon one , for Gath one , for Ekron one ; And the golden mice , according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords , both of fenced cities , and of country villages , even unto the great stone of Abel , whereon they set down the ark of the LORD : which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua , the Beth-shemite . And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh , because they had looked into the ark of the LORD , even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men : and the people lamented , because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter . And the men of Beth-shemesh said , Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God ? and to whom shall he go up from us ? And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim , saying , The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD ; come ye down , and fetch it up to you . And the men of Kirjath-jearim came , and fetched up the ark of the LORD , and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill , and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD . And it came to pass , while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim , that the time was long ; for it was twenty years : and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD . And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel , saying , If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts , then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you , and prepare your hearts unto the LORD , and serve him only : and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines . Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth , and served the LORD only . And Samuel said , Gather all Israel to Mizpeh , and I will pray for you unto the LORD . And they gathered together to Mizpeh , and drew water , and poured it out before the LORD , and fasted on that day , and said there , We have sinned against the LORD . And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh . And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh , the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel . And when the children of Israel heard it , they were afraid of the Philistines . And the children of Israel said to Samuel , Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us , that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines . And Samuel took a sucking lamb , and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD : and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel ; and the LORD heard him . And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering , the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel : but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines , and discomfited them ; and they were smitten before Israel . And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh , and pursued the Philistines , and smote them , until they came under Beth-car . Then Samuel took a stone , and set it between Mizpeh and Shen , and called the name of it Eben-ezer , saying , Hitherto hath the LORD helped us . So the Philistines were subdued , and they came no more into the coast of Israel : and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel . And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel , from Ekron even unto Gath ; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines . And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites . And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life . And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel , and Gilgal , and Mizpeh , and judged Israel in all those places . And his return was to Ramah ; for there was his house ; and there he judged Israel ; and there he built an altar unto the LORD . And it came to pass , when Samuel was old , that he made his sons judges over Israel . Now the name of his firstborn was Joel ; and the name of his second , Abiah : they were judges in Beer-sheba . And his sons walked not in his ways , but turned aside after lucre , and took bribes , and perverted judgment . Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together , and came to Samuel unto Ramah , And 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 . But the thing displeased Samuel , when they said , Give us a king to judge us . And Samuel prayed unto the LORD . And the LORD said unto Samuel , 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 , that I should not reign over them . According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day , wherewith they have forsaken me , and served other gods , so do they also unto thee . Now therefore hearken unto their voice : howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them , and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them . And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king . And he said , This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you : He will take your sons , and appoint them for himself , for his chariots , and to be his horsemen ; and some shall run before his chariots . And he will appoint him captains over thousands , and captains over fifties ; and will set them to ear his ground , and to reap his harvest , and to make his instruments of war , and instruments of his chariots . And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries , and to be cooks , and to be bakers . And he will take your fields , and your vineyards , and your oliveyards , even the best of them , and give them to his servants . And he will take the tenth of your seed , and of your vineyards , and give to his officers , and to his servants . And he will take your menservants , and your maidservants , and your goodliest young men , and your asses , and put them to his work . He will take the tenth of your sheep : and ye shall be his servants . And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you ; and the LORD will not hear you in that day . Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel ; and they said , Nay ; but we will have a king over us ; That we also may be like all the nations ; and that our king may judge us , and go out before us , and fight our battles . And Samuel heard all the words of the people , and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD . And the LORD said to 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 . Now there was a man of Benjamin , whose name was Kish , the son of Abiel , the son of Zeror , the son of Bechorath , the son of Aphiah , a Benjamite , a mighty man of power . And he had a son , whose name was Saul , a choice young man , and a goodly : and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he : from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people . And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost . And Kish said to Saul his son , Take now one of the servants with thee , and arise , go seek the asses . And he passed through mount Ephraim , and passed through the land of Shalisha , but they found them not : then they passed through the land of Shalim , and there they were not : and he passed through the land of the Benjamites , but they found them not . And when they were come to the land of Zuph , Saul said to his servant that was with him , Come , and let us return ; lest my father leave caring for the asses , and take thought for us . And he said unto him , Behold now , there is in this city a man of God , and he is an honourable man ; all that he saith cometh surely to pass : now let us go thither ; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go . Then said Saul to his servant , But , behold , if we go , what shall we bring the man ? for the bread is spent in our vessels , and there is not a present to bring to the man of God : what have we ? And the servant answered Saul again , and said , Behold , I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver : that will I give to the man of God , to tell us our way . ( Beforetime in Israel , when a man went to inquire of God , thus he spake , Come , and let us go to the seer : for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer . ) Then said Saul to his servant , Well said ; come , let us go . So they went unto the city where the man of God was . And as they went up the hill to the city , they found young maidens going out to draw water , and said unto them , Is the seer here ? And they answered them , and said , He is ; behold , he is before you : make haste now , for he came to day to the city ; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place : As soon as ye be come into the city , ye shall straightway find him , before he go up to the high place to eat : for the people will not eat until he come , because he doth bless the sacrifice ; and afterwards they eat that be bidden . Now therefore get you up ; for about this time ye shall find him . And they went up into the city : and when they were come into the city , behold , Samuel came out against them , for to go up to the high place . Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came , saying , To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin , and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel , that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines : for I have looked upon my people , because their cry is come unto me . And when Samuel saw Saul , the LORD said unto him , Behold the man whom I spake to thee of ! this same shall reign over my people . Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate , and said , Tell me , I pray thee , where the seer's house is . And Samuel answered Saul , and said , I am the seer : go up before me unto the high place ; for ye shall eat with me to day , and to morrow I will let thee go , and will tell thee all that is in thine heart . And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago , set not thy mind on them ; for they are found . And on whom is all the desire of Israel ? Is it not on thee , and on all thy father's house ? And Saul answered and said , Am not I a Benjamite , of the smallest of the tribes of Israel ? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin ? wherefore then speakest thou so to me ? And Samuel took Saul and his servant , and brought them into the parlour , and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden , which were about thirty persons . And Samuel said unto the cook , Bring the portion which I gave thee , of which I said unto thee , Set it by thee . And the cook took up the shoulder , and that which was upon it , and set it before Saul . And Samuel said , Behold that which is left ! set it before thee , and eat : for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said , I have invited the people . So Saul did eat with Samuel that day . And when they were come down from the high place into the city , Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house . And they arose early : and it came to pass about the spring of the day , that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house , saying , Up , that I may send thee away . And Saul arose , and they went out both of them , he and Samuel , abroad . And as they were going down to the end of the city , Samuel said to Saul , Bid the servant pass on before us , ( and he passed on , ) but stand thou still a while , that I may shew thee the word of God . Then Samuel took a vial of oil , and poured it upon his head , and kissed him , and said , Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance ? When thou art departed from me to day , then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah ; and they will say unto thee , The asses which thou wentest to seek are found : and , lo , thy father hath left the care of the asses , and sorroweth for you , saying , What shall I do for my son ? Then shalt thou go on forward from thence , and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor , and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel , one carrying three kids , and another carrying three loaves of bread , and another carrying a bottle of wine : And they will salute thee , and give thee two loaves of bread ; which thou shalt receive of their hands . After that thou shalt come to the hill of God , where is the garrison of the Philistines : and it shall come to pass , when thou art come thither to the city , that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery , and a tabret , and a pipe , and a harp , before them ; and they shall prophesy : And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee , and thou shalt prophesy with them , and shalt be turned into another man . And let it be , when these signs are come unto thee , that thou do as occasion serve thee ; for God is with thee . And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal ; and , behold , I will come down unto thee , to offer burnt offerings , and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings : seven days shalt thou tarry , till I come to thee , and shew thee what thou shalt do . And it was so , that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel , God gave him another heart : and all those signs came to pass that day . And when they came thither to the hill , behold , a company of prophets met him ; and the Spirit of God came upon him , and he prophesied among them . And it came to pass , when all that knew him beforetime saw that , behold , he prophesied among the prophets , then the people said one to another , What is this that is come unto the son of Kish ? Is Saul also among the prophets ? And one of the same place answered and said , But who is their father ? Therefore it became a proverb , Is Saul also among the prophets ? And when he had made an end of prophesying , he came to the high place . And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant , Whither went ye ? And he said , To seek the asses : and when we saw that they were no where , we came to Samuel . And Saul's uncle said , Tell me , I pray thee , what Samuel said unto you . And Saul said unto his uncle , He told us plainly that the asses were found . But of the matter of the kingdom , whereof Samuel spake , he told him not . And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh ; And said unto the children of Israel , Thus saith the LORD God of Israel , I brought up Israel out of Egypt , and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians , and out of the hand of all kingdoms , and of them that oppressed you : And ye have this day rejected your God , who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations ; and ye have said unto him , Nay , but set a king over us . Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes , and by your thousands . And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near , the tribe of Benjamin was taken . When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families , the family of Matri was taken , and Saul the son of Kish was taken : and when they sought him , he could not be found . Therefore they inquired of the LORD further , if the man should yet come thither . And the LORD answered , Behold , he hath hid himself among the stuff . And they ran and fetched him thence : and when he stood among the people , he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward . And Samuel said to all the people , See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen , that there is none like him among all the people ? And all the people shouted , and said , God save the king . Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom , and wrote it in a book , and laid it up before the LORD . And Samuel sent all the people away , every man to his house . And Saul also went home to Gibeah ; and there went with him a band of men , whose hearts God had touched . But the children of Belial said , How shall this man save us ? And they despised him , and brought him no presents . But he held his peace . Then Nahash the Ammonite came up , and encamped against Jabesh-gilead : and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash , Make a covenant with us , and we will serve thee . And Nahash the Ammonite answered them , On this condition will I make a covenant with you , that I may thrust out all your right eyes , and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel . 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 then , if there be no man to save us , we will come out to thee . Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul , and told the tidings in the ears of the people : and all the people lifted up their voices , and wept . And , behold , Saul came after the herd out of the field ; and Saul said , What aileth the people that they weep ? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh . And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings , and his anger was kindled greatly . And he took a yoke of oxen , and hewed them in pieces , and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers , saying , Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel , so shall it be done unto his oxen . And the fear of the LORD fell on the people , and they came out with one consent . And when he numbered them in Bezek , the children of Israel were three hundred thousand , and the men of Judah thirty thousand . And they said unto the messengers that came , Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead , To morrow , by that time the sun be hot , ye shall have help . And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh ; and they were glad . Therefore the men of Jabesh said , To morrow we will come out unto you , and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you . And it was so on the morrow , that Saul put the people in three companies ; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch , and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day : and it came to pass , that they which remained were scattered , so that two of them were not left together . And the people said unto Samuel , Who is he that said , Shall Saul reign over us ? bring the men , that we may put them to death . And Saul said , There shall not a man be put to death this day : for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel . Then said Samuel to the people , Come , and let us go to Gilgal , and renew the kingdom there . And all the people went to Gilgal ; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal ; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD ; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly . And Samuel said unto all Israel , Behold , I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me , and have made a king over you . And now , behold , the king walketh before you : and I am old and grayheaded ; and , behold , my sons are with you : and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day . Behold , here I am : witness against me before the LORD , and before his anointed : whose ox have I taken ? or whose ass have I taken ? or whom have I defrauded ? whom have I oppressed ? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith ? and I will restore it you . And they said , Thou hast not defrauded us , nor oppressed us , neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand . And he said unto them , The LORD is witness against you , and his anointed is witness this day , that ye have not found ought in my hand . And they answered , He is witness . And Samuel said unto the people , It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron , and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt . Now therefore stand still , that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD , which he did to you and to your fathers . When Jacob was come into Egypt , and your fathers cried unto the LORD , then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron , which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt , and made them dwell in this place . And when they forgat the LORD their God , 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 . And they cried unto the LORD , and said , We have sinned , because we have forsaken the LORD , and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth : but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies , and we will serve thee . And the LORD sent Jerubbaal , and Bedan , and Jephthah , and Samuel , and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side , and ye dwelled safe . And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you , ye said unto me , Nay ; but a king shall reign over us : when the LORD your God was your king . Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen , and whom ye have desired ! and , behold , the LORD hath set a king over you . If ye will fear the LORD , and serve him , and obey his voice , and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD , then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God : But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD , but rebel against the commandment of the LORD , then shall the hand of the LORD be against you , as it was against your fathers . Now therefore stand and see this great thing , which the LORD will do before your eyes . Is it not wheat harvest to day ? I will call unto the LORD , and he shall send thunder and rain ; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great , which ye have done in the sight of the LORD , in asking you a king . So Samuel called unto the LORD ; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day : and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel . And all the people said unto Samuel , Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God , that we die not : for we have added unto all our sins this evil , to ask us a king . And Samuel said unto the people , Fear not : ye have done all this wickedness : yet turn not aside from following the LORD , but serve the LORD with all your heart ; And turn ye not aside : for then should ye go after vain things , which cannot profit nor deliver ; for they are vain . For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake : because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people . Moreover as for me , God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you : but I will teach you the good and the right way : Only fear the LORD , and serve him in truth with all your heart : for consider how great things he hath done for you . But if ye shall still do wickedly , ye shall be consumed , both ye and your king . Saul reigned one year ; and when he had reigned two years over Israel , Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel ; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel , and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin : and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent . And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba , and the Philistines heard of it . And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land , saying , Let the Hebrews hear . And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines , and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines . And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal . And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel , thirty thousand chariots , and six thousand horsemen , 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 . When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait , ( for the people were distressed , ) then the people did hide themselves in caves , and in thickets , and in rocks , and in high places , and in pits . And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead . As for Saul , he was yet in Gilgal , and all the people followed him trembling . And he tarried seven days , according to the set time that Samuel had appointed : but Samuel came not to Gilgal ; and the people were scattered from him . And Saul said , Bring hither a burnt offering to me , and peace offerings . And he offered the burnt offering . And it came to pass , that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering , behold , Samuel came ; and Saul went out to meet him , that he might salute him . 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 days appointed , and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash ; Therefore said I , The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal , and I have not made supplication unto the LORD : I forced myself therefore , and offered a burnt offering . And Samuel said to Saul , Thou hast done foolishly : thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God , which he commanded thee : for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever . But now thy kingdom shall not continue : the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart , and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people , because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee . And Samuel arose , and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin . And Saul numbered the people that were present with him , about six hundred men . And Saul , and Jonathan his son , and the people that were present with them , abode in Gibeah of Benjamin : but the Philistines encamped in Michmash . And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies : one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah , unto the land of Shual : A nd anot her company turned the way to Beth-horon : and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness . Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel : for the Philistines said , Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears : But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines , to sharpen every man his share , and his coulter , and his axe , and his mattock . Yet they had a file for the mattocks , and for the coulters , and for the forks , and for the axes , and to sharpen the goads . So 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 with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found . And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash . Now it came to pass upon a day , that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour , Come , and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison , that is on the other side . But he told not his father . And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron : and the people that were with him were about six hundred men ; 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 . And between the passages , by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison , there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side : and the name of the one was Bozez , and the name of the other Seneh . The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash , and the other southward over against Gibeah . And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour , Come , and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised : it may be that the LORD will work for us : for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few . And his armourbearer said unto him , Do all that is in thine heart : turn thee ; behold , I am with thee according to thy heart . Then said Jonathan , Behold , we will pass over unto these men , and we will discover ourselves unto them . If they say thus unto us , Tarry until we come to you ; then we will stand still in our place , and will not go up unto them . But if they say thus , Come up unto us ; then we will go up : for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand : and this shall be a sign unto us . And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines : and the Philistines said , Behold , the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves . And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer , and said , Come up to us , and we will shew you a thing . And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer , Come up after me : for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel . And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet , and his armourbearer after him : and they fell before Jonathan ; and his armourbearer slew after him . And that first slaughter , which Jonathan and his armourbearer made , was about twenty men , within as it were an half acre of land , which a yoke of oxen might plow . And there was trembling in the host , in the field , and among all the people : the garrison , and the spoilers , they also trembled , and the earth quaked : so it was a very great trembling . And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked ; and , behold , the multitude melted away , and they went on beating down one another . 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 . And Saul said unto Ahiah , Bring hither the ark of God . For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel . And it came to pass , while Saul talked unto the priest , that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased : and Saul said unto the priest , Withdraw thine hand . And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves , and they came to the battle : and , behold , every man's sword was against his fellow , and there was a very great discomfiture . Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time , which went up with them into the camp from the country round about , even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan . Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim , when they heard that the Philistines fled , even they also followed hard after them in the battle . So the LORD saved Israel that day : and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven . And the men of Israel were distressed that day : for Saul had adjured the people , saying , Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening , that I may be avenged on mine enemies . So none of the people tasted any food . And all they of the land came to a wood ; and there was honey upon the ground . And when the people were come into the wood , behold , the honey dropped ; but no man put his hand to his mouth : for the people feared the oath . But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath : wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand , and dipped it in an honeycomb , and put his hand to his mouth ; and his eyes were enlightened . Then answered one of the people , and said , Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath , saying , Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day . And the people were faint . Then said Jonathan , My father hath troubled the land : see , I pray you , how mine eyes have been enlightened , because I tasted a little of this honey . How much more , if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found ? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines ? And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon : and the people were very faint . And the people flew upon the spoil , and took sheep , and oxen , and calves , and slew them on the ground : and the people did eat them with the blood . Then they told Saul , saying , Behold , the people sin against the LORD , in that they eat with the blood . And he said , Ye have transgressed : roll a great stone unto me this day . And Saul said , Disperse yourselves among the people , and say unto them , Bring me hither every man his ox , and every man his sheep , and slay them here , and eat ; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood . And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night , and slew them there . And Saul built an altar unto the LORD : the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD . And Saul said , Let us go down after the Philistines by night , and spoil them until the morning light , and let us not leave a man of them . And they said , Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee . Then said the priest , Let us draw near hither unto God . And Saul asked counsel of God , Shall I go down after the Philistines ? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel ? But he answered him not that day . And Saul said , Draw ye near hither , all the chief of the people : and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day . For , as the LORD liveth , which saveth Israel , though it be in Jonathan my son , he shall surely die . But there was not a man among all the people that answered him . Then said he unto all Israel , Be ye on one side , and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side . And the people said unto Saul , Do what seemeth good unto thee . Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel , Give a perfect lot . And Saul and Jonathan were taken : but the people escaped . And Saul said , Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son . And Jonathan was taken . Then Saul said to Jonathan , Tell me what thou hast done . And Jonathan told him , and said , I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand , and , lo , I must die . And Saul answered , God do so and more also : for thou shalt surely die , Jonathan . And the people said unto Saul , Shall Jonathan die , who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel ? God forbid : as the LORD liveth , there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground ; for he hath wrought with God this day . So the people rescued Jonathan , that he died not . Then Saul went up from following the Philistines : and the Philistines went to their own place . So 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 himself , he vexed them . And he gathered an host , and smote the Amalekites , and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them . Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan , and Ishui , and Melchi-shua : and the names of his two daughters were these ; the name of the firstborn Merab , and the name of the younger Michal : 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 , Saul's uncle . And Kish was the father of Saul ; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel . And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul : and when Saul saw any strong man , or any valiant man , he took him unto him . Samuel also said unto Saul , The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people , over Israel : now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD . Thus saith the LORD of hosts , I remember that which Amalek did to Israel , how he laid wait for him in the way , when he came up from Egypt . Now go and smite Amalek , and utterly destroy all that they have , and spare them not ; but slay both man and woman , infant and suckling , ox and sheep , camel and ass . And Saul gathered the people together , and numbered them in Telaim , two hundred thousand footmen , and ten thousand men of Judah . And Saul came to a city of Amalek , and laid wait in the valley . And Saul said unto the Kenites , Go , depart , get you down from among the Amalekites , lest I destroy you with them : for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel , when they came up out of Egypt . So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites . And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur , that is over against Egypt . And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive , and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword . But Saul and the people spared Agag , and the best of the sheep , and of the oxen , and of the fatlings , and the lambs , and all that was good , and would not utterly destroy them : but every thing that was vile and refuse , that they destroyed utterly . Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel , saying , It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king : for he is turned back from following me , and hath not performed my commandments . And it grieved Samuel ; and he cried unto the LORD all night . And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning , it was told Samuel , saying , Saul came to Carmel , and , behold , he set him up a place , and is gone about , and passed on , and gone down to Gilgal . And Samuel came to Saul : and Saul said unto him , Blessed be thou of the LORD : I have performed the commandment of the LORD . And Samuel said , What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears , and the lowing of the oxen which I hear ? And Saul said , They have brought them from the Amalekites : for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen , to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God ; and the rest we have utterly destroyed . Then Samuel said unto Saul , Stay , and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night . And he said unto him , Say on . And Samuel said , When thou wast little in thine own sight , wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel , and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel ? And the LORD sent thee on a journey , and said , Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites , and fight against them until they be consumed . Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD , but didst fly upon the spoil , and didst evil in the sight of the LORD ? And Saul said unto Samuel , Yea , I have obeyed the voice of the LORD , and have gone the way which the LORD sent me , and have brought Agag the king of Amalek , and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites . But the people took of the spoil , sheep and oxen , the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed , to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal . And Samuel said , Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices , as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? Behold , to obey is better than sacrifice , and to hearken than the fat of rams . For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft , and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry . Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD , he hath also rejected thee from being king . And Saul said unto Samuel , I have sinned : for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD , and thy words : because I feared the people , and obeyed their voice . Now therefore , I pray thee , pardon my sin , and turn again with me , that I may worship the LORD . And Samuel said unto Saul , I will not return with thee : for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD , and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel . And as Samuel turned about to go away , he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle , and it rent . And Samuel said unto him , The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day , and hath given it to a neighbour of thine , that is better than thou . And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent : for he is not a man , that he should repent . Then he said , I have sinned : yet honour me now , I pray thee , before the elders of my people , and before Israel , and turn again with me , that I may worship the LORD thy God . So Samuel turned again after Saul ; and Saul worshipped the LORD . Then said Samuel , Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites . And Agag came unto him delicately . And Agag said , Surely the bitterness of death is past . And Samuel said , As thy sword hath made women childless , so shall thy mother be childless among women . And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal . Then Samuel went to Ramah ; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul . And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death : nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul : and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel . And the LORD said unto Samuel , How long wilt thou mourn for Saul , seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel ? fill thine horn with oil , and go , I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite : for I have provided me a king among his sons . And Samuel said , How can I go ? if Saul hear it , he Will kill me . And the LORD said , Take an heifer with thee , and say , I am come to sacrifice to the LORD . And call Jesse to the sacrifice , and I will shew thee what thou shalt do : and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee . And Samuel did that which the LORD spake , and came to Bethlehem . And the elders of the town trembled at his coming , and said , Comest thou peaceably ? And he said , Peaceably : I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD : sanctify yourselves , and come with me to the sacrifice . And he sanctified Jesse and his sons , and called them to the sacrifice . And it came to pass , when they were come , that he looked on Eliab , and said , Surely the LORD's anointed is before him . But the LORD said unto Samuel , Look not on his countenance , or on the height of his stature ; because I have refused him : for the LORD seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appearance , but the LORD looketh on the heart . Then Jesse called Abinadab , and made him pass before Samuel . And he said , Neither hath the LORD chosen this . Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by . And he said , Neither hath the LORD chosen this . Again , Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel . And Samuel said unto Jesse , The LORD hath not chosen these . And Samuel said unto Jesse , Are here all thy children ? And he said , There remaineth yet the youngest , and , behold , he keepeth the sheep . And Samuel said unto Jesse , Send and fetch him : for we will not sit down till he come hither . And he sent , and brought him in . Now he was ruddy , and withal of a beautiful countenance , and goodly to look to . And the LORD said , Arise , anoint him : for this is he . Then Samuel took the horn of oil , and anointed him in the midst of his brethren : and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward . So Samuel rose up , and went to Ramah . But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul , and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him . And Saul's servants said unto him , Behold now , an evil spirit from God troubleth thee . Let our lord now command thy servants , which are before thee , to seek out a man , who is a cunning player on an harp : and it shall come to pass , when the evil spirit from God is upon thee , that he shall play with his hand , and thou shalt be well . And Saul said unto his servants , Provide me now a man that can play well , and bring him to me . Then answered one of the servants , and said , Behold , I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite , that is cunning in playing , and a mighty valiant man , and a man of war , and prudent in matters , and a comely person , and the LORD is with him . Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse , and said , Send me David thy son , which is with the sheep . And Jesse took an ass laden with bread , and a bottle of wine , and a kid , and sent them by David his son unto Saul . And David came to Saul , and stood before him : and he loved him greatly ; and he became his armourbearer . And Saul sent to Jesse , saying , Let David , I pray thee , stand before me ; for he hath found favour in my sight . And it came to pass , when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul , that David took an harp , and played with his hand : so Saul was refreshed , and was well , and the evil spirit departed from him . Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle , and were gathered together at Shochoh , which belongeth to Judah , and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah , in Ephes-dammim . And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together , and pitched by the valley of Elah , and set the battle in array against the Philistines . And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side , and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side : and there was a valley between them . And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines , named Goliath , of Gath , whose height was six cubits and a span . And he had an helmet of brass upon his head , and he was armed with a coat of mail ; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass . And he had greaves of brass upon his legs , and a target of brass between his shoulders . And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam ; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron : and one bearing a shield went before him . And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel , and said unto them , Why are ye come out to set your battle in array ? am not I a Philistine , and ye servants to Saul ? choose you a man for you , and let him come down to me . If he be able to fight with me , and to kill me , then will we be your servants : but if I prevail against him , and kill him , then shall ye be our servants , and serve us . And the Philistine said , I defy the armies of Israel this day ; give me a man , that we may fight together . When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine , they were dismayed , and greatly afraid . Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah , whose name was Jesse ; and he had eight sons : and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul . And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle : and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn , and next unto him Abinadab , and the third Shammah . And David was the youngest : and the three eldest followed Saul . But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem . And the Philistine drew near morning and evening , and presented himself forty days . And Jesse said unto David his son , Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn , and these ten loaves , and run to the camp to thy brethren ; And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand , and look how thy brethren fare , and take their pledge . Now Saul , and they , and all the men of Israel , were in the valley of Elah , fighting with the Philistines . And David rose up early in the morning , and left the sheep with a keeper , and took , and went , as Jesse had commanded him ; and he came to the trench , as the host was going forth to the fight , and shouted for the battle . For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array , army against army . And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage , and ran into the army , and came and saluted his brethren . And as he talked with them , behold , there came up the champion , the Philistine of Gath , Goliath by name , out of the armies of the Philistines , and spake according to the same words : and David heard them . And all the men of Israel , when they saw the man , fled from him , and were sore afraid . And the men of Israel said , Have ye seen this man that is come up ? surely to defy Israel is he come up : and it shall be , that the man who killeth him , the king will enrich him with great riches , and will give him his daughter , and make his father's house free in Israel . And David spake to the men that stood by him , saying , What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine , and taketh away the reproach from Israel ? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine , that he should defy the armies of the living God ? And the people answered him after this manner , saying , So shall it be done to the man that killeth him . And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men ; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David , and he said , Why camest thou down hither ? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ? I know thy pride , and the naughtiness of thine heart ; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle . And David said , What have I now done ? Is there not a cause ? And he turned from him toward another , and spake after the same manner : and the people answered him again after the former manner . And when the words were heard which David spake , they rehearsed them before Saul : and he sent for him . And David said to Saul , Let no man's heart fail because of him ; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine . And Saul said to David , Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him : for thou art but a youth , and he a man of war from his youth . And David said unto Saul , Thy servant kept his father's sheep , and there came a lion , and a bear , and took a lamb out of the flock : And I went out after him , and smote him , and delivered it out of his mouth : and when he arose against me , I caught him by his beard , and smote him , and slew him . Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear : and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them , seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God . David said moreover , The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion , and out of the paw of the bear , he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine . And Saul said unto David , Go , and the LORD be with thee . And Saul armed David with his armour , and he put an helmet of brass upon his head ; also he armed him with a coat of mail . And David girded his sword upon his armour , and he assayed to go ; for he had not proved it . And David said unto Saul , I cannot go with these ; for I have not proved them . And David put them off him . And he took his staff in his hand , and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook , and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had , even in a scrip ; and his sling was in his hand : and he drew near to the Philistine . And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David ; and the man that bare the shield went before him . And when the Philistine looked about , and saw David , he disdained him : for he was but a youth , and ruddy , and of a fair countenance . And the Philistine said unto David , Am I a dog , that thou comest to me with staves ? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods . And the Philistine said to David , Come to me , and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air , and to the beasts of the field . Then said David to the Philistine , Thou comest to me with a sword , and with a spear , and with a shield : but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts , the God of the armies of Israel , whom thou hast defied . This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand ; and I will smite thee , and take thine head from thee ; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air , and to the wild beasts of the earth ; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel . And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear : for the battle is the LORD's , and he will give you into our hands . And it came to pass , when the Philistine arose , and came and drew nigh to meet David , that David hasted , and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine . And David put his hand in his bag , and took thence a stone , and slang it , and smote the Philistine in his forehead , that the stone sunk into his forehead ; and he fell upon his face to the earth . So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone , and smote the Philistine , and slew him ; but there was no sword in the hand of David . Therefore David ran , and stood upon the Philistine , and took his sword , and drew it out of the sheath thereof , and slew him , and cut off his head therewith . And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead , they fled . And the men of Israel and of Judah arose , and shouted , and pursued the Philistines , until thou come to the valley , and to the gates of Ekron . And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim , even unto Gath , and unto Ekron . And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines , and they spoiled their tents . And David took the head of the Philistine , and brought it to Jerusalem ; but he put his armour in his tent . And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine , he said unto Abner , the captain of the host , Abner , whose son is this youth ? And Abner said , As thy soul liveth , O king , I cannot tell . And the king said , Inquire thou whose son the stripling is . And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine , Abner took him , and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand . And Saul said to him , Whose son art thou , thou young man ? And David answered , I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite . 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 . And Saul took him that day , and would let him go no more home to his father's house . Then Jonathan and David made a covenant , because he loved him as his own soul . And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him , and gave it to David , and his garments , even to his sword , and to his bow , and to his girdle . And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him , and behaved himself wisely : 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 . And it came to pass as they came , when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine , that the women came out of all cities of Israel , singing and dancing , to meet king Saul , with tabrets , with joy , and with instruments of musick . And the women answered one another as they played , and said , Saul hath slain his thousands , and David his ten thousands . And Saul was very wroth , and the saying displeased him ; and he said , They have ascribed unto David ten thousands , and to me they have ascribed but thousands : and what can he have more but the kingdom ? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward . And it came to pass on the morrow , that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul , and he prophesied in the midst of the house : and David played with his hand , as at other times : and there was a javelin in Saul's hand . And Saul cast the javelin ; for he said , I will smite David even to the wall with it . And David avoided out of his presence twice . And Saul was afraid of David , because the LORD was with him , and was departed from Saul . Therefore Saul removed him from him , and made him his captain over a thousand ; and he went out and came in before the people . And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways ; and the LORD was with him . Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely , he was afraid of him . But all Israel and Judah loved David , because he went out and came in before them . And Saul said to David , Behold my elder daughter Merab , her will I give thee to wife : only be thou valiant for me , and fight the LORD's battles . For Saul said , Let not mine hand be upon him , but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him . And David said unto Saul , Who am I ? and what is my life , or my father's family in Israel , that I should be son in law to the king ? But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David , that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife . And Michal Saul's daughter loved David : and they told Saul , and the thing pleased him . And Saul said , I will give him her , that she may be a snare to him , and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him . Wherefore Saul said to David , Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain . And Saul commanded his servants , saying , Commune with David secretly , and say , Behold , the king hath delight in thee , and all his servants love thee : now therefore be the king's son in law . And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David . And David said , Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law , seeing that I am a poor man , and lightly esteemed ? And the servants of Saul told him , saying , On this manner spake David . And Saul said , Thus shall ye say to David , The king desireth not any dowry , but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines , to be avenged of the king's enemies . But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines . And when his servants told David these words , it pleased David well to be the king's son in law : and the days were not expired . Wherefore David arose and went , he and his men , and slew of the Philistines two hundred men ; and David brought their foreskins , and they gave them in full tale to the king , that he might be the king's son in law . And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife . And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David , and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him . And Saul was yet the more afraid of David ; and Saul became David's enemy continually . Then the princes of the Philistines went forth : and it came to pass , after they went forth , that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul ; so that his name was much set by . And Saul spake to Jonathan his son , and to all his servants , that they should kill David . But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David : and Jonathan told David , saying , Saul my father seeketh to kill thee : now therefore , I pray thee , take heed to thyself until the morning , and abide in a secret place , and hide thyself : And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art , and I will commune with my father of thee ; and what I see , that I will tell thee . And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father , and said unto him , Let not the king sin against his servant , against David ; because he hath not sinned against thee , and because his works have been to theeward very good : For he did put his life in his hand , and slew the Philistine , and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel : thou sawest it , and didst rejoice : wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood , to slay David without a cause ? And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan : and Saul sware , As the LORD liveth , he shall not be slain . And Jonathan called David , and Jonathan shewed him all those things . And Jonathan brought David to Saul , and he was in his presence , as in times past . And there was war again : and David went out , and fought with the Philistines , and slew them with a great slaughter ; and they fled from him . And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul , as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand : and David played with his hand . And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin ; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence , and he smote the javelin into the wall : and David fled , and escaped that night . Saul also sent messengers unto David's house , to watch him , and to slay him in the morning : and Michal David's wife told him , saying , If thou save not thy life to night , to morrow thou shalt be slain . So Michal let David down through a window : and he went , and fled , and escaped . And Michal took an image , and laid it in the bed , and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster , and covered it with a cloth . And when Saul sent messengers to take David , she said , He is sick . And Saul sent the messengers again to see David , saying , Bring him up to me in the bed , that I may slay him . And when the messengers were come in , behold , there was an image in the bed , with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster . And Saul said unto Michal , Why hast thou deceived me so , and sent away mine enemy , that he is escaped ? And Michal answered Saul , He said unto me , Let me go ; why should I kill thee ? So David fled , and escaped , and came to Samuel to Ramah , and told him all that Saul had done to him . And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth . And it was told Saul , saying , Behold , David is at Naioth in Ramah . And Saul sent messengers to take David : and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying , and Samuel standing as appointed over them , the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul , and they also prophesied . And when it was told Saul , he sent other messengers , and they prophesied likewise . And Saul sent messengers again the third time , and they prophesied also . Then went he also to Ramah , and came to a great well that is in Sechu : and he asked and said , Where are Samuel and David ? And one said , Behold , they be at Naioth in Ramah . And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah : and the Spirit of God was upon him also , and he went on , and prophesied , until he came to Naioth in Ramah . And he stripped off his clothes also , and prophesied before Samuel in like manner , and lay down naked all that day and all that night . Wherefore they say , Is Saul also among the prophets ? And David fled from Naioth in Ramah , and came and said before Jonathan , What have I done ? what is mine iniquity ? and what is my sin before thy father , that he seeketh my life ? And he said unto him , God forbid ; thou shalt not die : behold , my father will do nothing either great or small , but that he will shew it me : and why should my father hide this thing from me ? it is not so . And David sware moreover , and said , Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes ; and he saith , Let not Jonathan know this , lest he be grieved : but truly as the LORD liveth , and as thy soul liveth , there is but a step between me and death . Then said Jonathan unto David , Whatsoever thy soul desireth , I will even do it for thee . And David said unto Jonathan , Behold , to morrow is the new moon , and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat : but let me go , that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even . If thy father at all miss me , then say , David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city : for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family . If he say thus , It is well ; thy servant shall have peace : but if he be very wroth , then be sure that evil is determined by him . Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant ; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee : notwithstanding , if there be in me iniquity , slay me thyself ; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father ? And Jonathan said , Far be it from thee : for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee , then would not I tell it thee ? Then said David to Jonathan , Who shall tell me ? or what if thy father answer thee roughly ? And Jonathan said unto David , Come , and let us go out into the field . And they went out both of them into the field . And Jonathan said unto David , O LORD God of Israel , when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time , or the third day , and , behold , if there be good toward David , and I then send not unto thee , and shew it thee ; The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan : but if it please my father to do thee evil , then I will shew it thee , and send thee away , that thou mayest go in peace : and the LORD be with thee , as he hath been with my father . And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD , that I die not : But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever : no , not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth . So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David , saying , Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies . And Jonathan caused David to swear again , because he loved him : for he loved him as he loved his own soul . Then Jonathan said to David , To morrow is the new moon : and thou shalt be missed , because thy seat will be empty . And when thou hast stayed three days , then thou shalt go down quickly , and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand , and shalt remain by the stone Ezel . And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof , as though I shot at a mark . And , behold , I will send a lad , saying , Go , find out the arrows . If I expressly say unto the lad , Behold , the arrows are on this side of thee , take them ; then come thou : for there is peace to thee , and no hurt ; as the LORD liveth . But if I say thus unto the young man , Behold , the arrows are beyond thee ; go thy way : for the LORD hath sent thee away . And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of , behold , the LORD be between thee and me for ever . So David hid himself in the field : and when the new moon was come , the king sat him down to eat meat . And the king sat upon his seat , as at other times , even upon a seat by the wall : and Jonathan arose , and Abner sat by Saul's side , and David's place was empty . Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day : for he thought , Something hath befallen him , he is not clean ; surely he is not clean . And it came to pass on the morrow , which was the second day of the month , that David's place was empty : and Saul said unto Jonathan his son , Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat , neither yesterday , nor to day ? And Jonathan answered Saul , David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem : And he said , Let me go , I pray thee ; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city ; and my brother , he hath commanded me to be there : and now , if I have found favour in thine eyes , let me get away , I pray thee , and see my brethren . Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table . Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan , and he said unto him , Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman , do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion , and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness ? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground , thou shalt not be established , nor thy kingdom . Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me , for he shall surely die . And Jonathan answered Saul his father , and said unto him , Wherefore shall he be slain ? what hath he done ? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him : whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David . So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger , and did eat no meat the second day of the month : for he was grieved for David , because his father had done him shame . And it came to pass in the morning , that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David , and a little lad with him . And he said unto his lad , Run , find out now the arrows which I shoot . And as the lad ran , he shot an arrow beyond him . And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot , Jonathan cried after the lad , and said , Is not the arrow beyond thee ? And Jonathan cried after the lad , Make speed , haste , stay not . And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows , and came to his master . But the lad knew not any thing : only Jonathan and David knew the matter . And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad , and said unto him , Go , carry them to the city . And as soon as the lad was gone , David arose out of a place toward the south , and fell on his face to the ground , and bowed himself three times : and they kissed one another , and wept one with another , until David exceeded . And Jonathan said to David , Go in peace , forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD , saying , The LORD be between me and thee , and between my seed and thy seed for ever . And he arose and departed : and Jonathan went into the city . Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest : and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David , and said unto him , Why art thou alone , and no man with thee ? And David said unto Ahimelech the priest , The king hath commanded me a business , and hath said unto me , Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee , and what I have commanded thee : and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place . Now therefore what is under thine hand ? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand , or what there is present . And the priest answered David , and said , There is no common bread under mine hand , but there is hallowed bread ; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women . And David answered the priest , and said unto him , Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days , since I came out , and the vessels of the young men are holy , and the bread is in a manner common , yea , though it were sanctified this day in the vessel . So the priest gave him hallowed bread : for there was no bread there but the shewbread , that was taken from before the LORD , to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away . Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day , detained before the LORD ; and his name was Doeg , an Edomite , the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul . And David said unto Ahimelech , And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword ? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me , because the king's business required haste . And the priest said , The sword of Goliath the Philistine , whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah , behold , it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod : if thou wilt take that , take it : for there is no other save that here . And David said , There is none like that ; give it me . And David arose , and fled that day for fear of Saul , and went to Achish the king of Gath . And the servants of Achish said unto him , Is not this David the king of the land ? did they not sing one to another of him in dances , saying , Saul hath slain his thousands , and David his ten thousands ? And David laid up these words in his heart , and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath . And he changed his behaviour before them , and feigned himself mad in their hands , and scrabbled on the doors of the gate , and let his spittle fall down upon his beard . Then said Achish unto his servants , Lo , ye see the man is mad : wherefore then have ye brought him to me ? Have I need of mad men , that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence ? shall this fellow come into my house ? David therefore departed thence , and escaped to the cave Adullam : and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it , they went down thither to him . And every one that was in distress , and every one that was in debt , and every one that was discontented , gathered themselves unto him ; and he became a captain over them : and there were with him about four hundred men . And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab : and he said unto the king of Moab , Let my father and my mother , I pray thee , come forth , and be with you , till I know what God will do for me . And he brought them before the king of Moab : and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold . And the prophet Gad said unto David , Abide not in the hold ; depart , and get thee into the land of Judah . Then David departed , and came into the forest of Hareth . When Saul heard that David was discovered , and the men that were with him , ( now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah , having his spear in his hand , and all his servants were standing about him ; ) Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him , Hear now , ye Benjamites ; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards , and make you all captains of thousands , and captains of hundreds ; That all of you have conspired against me , and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse , and there is none of you that is sorry for me , or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me , to lie in wait , as at this day ? Then answered Doeg the Edomite , which was set over the servants of Saul , and said , I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob , to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub . And he inquired of the LORD for him , and gave him victuals , and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine . Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest , the son of Ahitub , and all his father's house , the priests that were in Nob : and they came all of them to the king . And Saul said , Hear now , thou son of Ahitub . And he answered , Here I am , my lord . And Saul said unto him , Why have ye conspired against me , thou and the son of Jesse , in that thou hast given him bread , and a sword , and hast inquired of God for him , that he should rise against me , to lie in wait , as at this day ? Then Ahimelech answered the king , and said , And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David , which is the king's son in law , and goeth at thy bidding , and is honourable in thine house ? Did I then begin to inquire of God for him ? be it far from me : let not the king impute any thing un to his servant , nor to all the house of my father : for thy servant knew nothing of all this , less or more . And the king said , Thou shalt surely die , Ahimelech , thou , and all thy father's house . And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him , Turn , and slay the priests of the LORD ; because their hand also is with David , and because they knew when he fled , and did not shew it to me . But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD . And the king said to Doeg , Turn thou , and fall upon the priests . And Doeg the Edomite turned , and he fell upon the priests , and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod . And Nob , the city of the priests , smote he with the edge of the sword , both men and women , children and sucklings , and oxen , and asses , and sheep , with the edge of the sword . And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub , named Abiathar , escaped , and fled after David . And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests . And David said unto Abiathar , I knew it that day , when Doeg the Edomite was there , that he would surely tell Saul : I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house . Abide thou with me , fear not : for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life : but with me thou shalt be in safeguard . Then they told David , saying , Behold , the Philistines fight against Keilah , and they rob the threshingfloors . Therefore David inquired of the LORD , saying , Shall I go and smite these Philistines ? And the LORD said unto David , Go , and smite the Philistines , and save Keilah . And David's men said unto him , Behold , we be afraid here in Judah : how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines ? Then David inquired of the LORD yet again . And the LORD answered him and said , Arise , go down to Keilah ; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand . So David and his men went to Keilah , and fought with the Philistines , and brought away their cattle , and smote them with a great slaughter . So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah . And it came to pass , when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah , that he came down with an ephod in his hand . And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah . And Saul said , God hath delivered him into mine hand ; for he is shut in , by entering into a town that hath gates and bars . And Saul called all the people together to war , to go down to Keilah , to besiege David and his men . And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him ; and he said to Abiathar the priest , Bring hither the ephod . Then said David , O LORD God of Israel , thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah , to destroy the city for my sake . Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand ? will Saul come down , as thy servant hath heard ? O LORD God of Israel , I beseech thee , tell thy servant . And the LORD said , He will come down . Then said David , Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul ? And the LORD said , They will deliver thee up . Then David and his men , which were about six hundred , arose and departed out of Keilah , and went whithersoever they could go . And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah ; and he forbare to go forth . And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds , and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph . And Saul sought him every day , but God delivered him not into his hand . And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life : and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood . And Jonathan Saul's son arose , and went to David into the wood , and strengthened his hand in God . 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 shall be next unto thee ; and that also Saul my father knoweth . And they two made a covenant before the LORD : and David abode in the wood , and Jonathan went to his house . Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah , saying , Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood , in the hill of Hachilah , which is on the south of Jeshimon ? Now therefore , O king , come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down ; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand . And Saul said , Blessed be ye of the LORD ; for ye have compassion on me . Go , I pray you , prepare yet , and know and see his place where his haunt is , and who hath seen him there : for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly . See therefore , and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself , and come ye again to me with the certainty , and I will go with you : and it shall come to pass , if he be in the land , that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah . And they arose , and went to Ziph before Saul : but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon , in the plain on the south of Jeshimon . Saul also and his men went to seek him . And they told David : wherefore he came down into a rock , and abode in the wilderness of Maon . And when Saul heard that , he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon . 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 get away for fear of Saul ; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them . But there came a messenger unto Saul , saying , Haste thee , and come ; for the Philistines have invaded the land . Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David , and went against the Philistines : therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth . And David went up from thence , and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi . And it came to pass , when Saul was returned from following the Philistines , that it was told him , saying , Behold , David is in the wilderness of En-gedi . Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel , and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats . And he came to the sheepcotes by the way , where was a cave ; and Saul went in to cover his feet : and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave . And the men of David said unto him , Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee , Behold , I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand , that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee . Then David arose , and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily . And it came to pass afterward , that David's heart smote him , because he had cut off Saul's skirt . And he said unto his men , The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master , the LORD's anointed , to stretch forth mine hand against him , seeing he is the anointed of the LORD . So David stayed his servants with these words , and suffered them not to rise against Saul . But Saul rose up out of the cave , and went on his way . David also arose afterward , and went out of the cave , and cried after Saul , saying , My lord the king . And when Saul looked behind him , David stooped with his face to the earth , and bowed himself . And David said to Saul , Wherefore hearest thou men's words , saying , Behold , David seeketh thy hurt ? Behold , this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave : and some bade me kill thee : but mine eye spared thee ; and I said , I will not put forth mine hand against my lord ; for he is the LORD's anointed . Moreover , my father , see , yea , see the skirt of thy robe in my hand : for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and killed thee not , know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand , and I have not sinned against thee ; yet thou huntest my soul to take it . The LORD judge between me and thee , and the LORD avenge me of thee : but mine hand shall not be upon thee . As saith the proverb of the ancients , Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked : but mine hand shall not be upon thee . After whom is the king of Israel come out ? after whom dost thou pursue ? after a dead dog , after a flea . The LORD therefore be judge , and judge between me and thee , and see , and plead my cause , and deliver me out of thine hand . And it came to pass , when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul , that Saul said , Is this thy voice , my son David ? And Saul lifted up his voice , and wept . And he said to David , Thou art more righteous than I : for thou hast rewarded me good , whereas I have rewarded thee evil . And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me : forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand , thou killedst me not . For if a man find his enemy , will he let him go well away ? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day . And now , behold , I know well that thou shalt surely be king , and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand . Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD , that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me , and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house . And David sware unto Saul . And Saul went home ; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold . And Samuel died ; and all the Israelites were gathered together , and lamented him , and buried him in his house at Ramah . And David arose , and went down to the wilderness of Paran . And there was a man in Maon , whose possessions were in Carmel ; and the man was very great , and he had three thousand sheep , and a thousand goats : and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel . Now the name of the man was Nabal ; and the name of his wife Abigail : and she was a woman of good understanding , and of a beautiful countenance : but the man was churlish and evil in his doings ; and he was of the house of Caleb . And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep . And David sent out ten young men , and David said unto the young men , Get you up to Carmel , and go to Nabal , and greet him in my name : And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity , Peace be both to thee , and peace be to thine house , and peace be unto all that thou hast . And now I have heard that thou hast shearers : now thy shepherds which were with us , we hurt them not , neither was there ought missing unto them , all the while they were in Carmel . Ask thy young men , and they will shew thee . Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes : for we come in a good day : give , I pray thee , whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants , and to thy son David . And when David's young men came , they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David , and ceased . And Nabal answered David's servants , and said , Who is David ? and who is the son of Jesse ? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master . Shall I then take my bread , and my water , and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers , and give it unto men , whom I know not whence they be ? So David's young men turned their way , and went again , and came and told him all those sayings . And David said unto his men , Gird ye on every man his sword . And they girded on every man his sword ; and David also girded on his sword : and there went up after David about four hundred men ; and two hundred abode by the stuff . But one of the young men told Abigail , Nabal's wife , saying , Behold , David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master ; and he railed on them . But the men were very good unto us , and we were not hurt , neither missed we any thing , as long as we were conversant with them , when we were in the fields : They were a wall unto us both by night and day , all the while we were with them keeping the sheep . Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do ; for evil is determined against our master , and against all his household : for he is such a son of Belial , that a man cannot speak to him . Then Abigail made haste , and took two hundred loaves , and two bottles of wine , and five sheep ready dressed , and five measures of parched corn , and an hundred clusters of raisins , and two hundred cakes of figs , and laid them on asses . And she said unto her servants , Go on before me ; behold , I come after you . But she told not her husband Nabal . And it was so , as she rode on the ass , that she came down by the covert of the hill , and , behold , David and his men came down against her ; and she met them . Now David had said , Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness , so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him : and he hath requited me evil for good . So and more also do God unto the enemies of David , if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall . And when Abigail saw David , she hasted , and lighted off the ass , and fell before David on her face , and bowed herself to the ground , And fell at his feet , and said , Upon me , my lord , upon me let this iniquity be : and let thine handmaid , I pray thee , speak in thine audience , and hear the words of thine handmaid . Let not my lord , I pray thee , regard this man of Belial , even Nabal : for as his name is , so is he ; Nabal is his name , and folly is with him : but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord , whom thou didst send . Now therefore , my lord , as the LORD liveth , and as thy soul liveth , seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood , and from avenging thyself with thine own hand , now let thine enemies , and they that seek evil to my lord , be as Nabal . And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord , let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord . I pray thee , forgive the trespass of thine handmaid : for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house ; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD , and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days . Yet a man is risen to pursue thee , and to seek thy soul : but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God ; and the souls of thine enemies , them shall he sling out , as out of the middle of a sling . And it shall come to pass , when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee , and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel ; That this shall be no grief unto thee , nor offence of heart unto my lord , either that thou hast shed blood causeless , or that my lord hath avenged himself : but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord , then remember thine handmaid . And David said to Abigail , Blessed be the LORD God of Israel , which sent thee this day to meet me : And blessed be thy advice , and blessed be thou , which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood , and from avenging myself with mine own hand . For in very deed , as the LORD God of Israel liveth , which hath kept me back from hurting thee , except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me , surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall . So David received of her hand that which she had brought him , and said unto her , Go up in peace to thine house ; see , I have hearkened to thy voice , and have accepted thy person . 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 within him , for he was very drunken : wherefore she told him nothing , less or more , until the morning light . But it came to pass in the morning , when the wine was gone out of Nabal , and his wife had told him these things , that his heart died within him , and he became as a stone . And it came to pass about ten days after , that the LORD smote Nabal , that he died . And when David heard that Nabal was dead , he said , Blessed be the LORD , that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal , and hath kept his servant from evil : for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head , And David sent and communed with Abigail , to take her to him to wife . And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel , they spake unto her , saying , David sent us unto thee to take thee to him to wife . And she arose , and bowed herself on her face to the earth , and said , Behold , let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord . And Abigail hasted , and arose , and rode upon an ass , with five damsels of hers that went after her ; and she went after the messengers of David , and became his wife . David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel ; and they were also both of them his wives . But Saul had given Michal his daughter , David's wife , to Phalti the son of Laish , which was of Gallim . And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah , saying , Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah , which is before Jeshimon ? Then Saul arose , and went down to the wilderness of Ziph , having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him , to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph . And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah , which is before Jeshimon , by the way . But David abode in the wilderness , and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness . David therefore sent out spies , and understood that Saul was come in very deed . 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 the trench , and the people pitched round about him . Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite , and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah , brother to Joab , saying , Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp ? And Abishai said , I will go down with thee . So David and Abishai came to the people by night : and , behold , Saul lay sleeping within the trench , and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster : but Abner and the people lay round about him . Then said Abishai to David , God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day : now therefore let me smite him , I pray thee , with the spear even to the earth at once , and I will not smite him the second time . And David said to Abishai , Destroy him not : for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed , and be guiltless ? David said furthermore , As the LORD liveth , the LORD shall smite him ; or his day shall come to die ; or he shall descend into battle , and perish . The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed : but , I pray thee , take thou now the spear that is at his bolster , and the cruse of water , and let us go . So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster ; and they gat them away , and no man saw it , nor knew it , neither awaked : for they were all asleep ; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them . Then David went over to the other side , and stood on the top of an hill afar off ; a great space being between them : And David cried to the people , and to Abner the son of Ner , saying , Answerest thou not , Abner ? Then Abner answered and said , Who art thou that criest to the king ? And David said to Abner , Art not thou a valiant man ? and who is like to thee in Israel ? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king ? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord . This thing is not good that thou hast done . As the LORD liveth , ye are worthy to die , because ye have not kept your master , the LORD's anointed . And now see where the king's spear is , and the cruse of water that was at his bolster . And Saul knew David's voice , and said , Is this thy voice , my son David ? And David said , It is my voice , my lord , O king . And he said , Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant ? for what have I done ? or what evil is in mine hand ? Now therefore , I pray thee , let my lord the king hear the words of his servant . If the LORD have stirred thee up against me , let him accept an offering : but if they be the children of men , cursed be they before the LORD ; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD , saying , Go , serve other gods . Now therefore , let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD : for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea , as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains . Then said Saul , I have sinned : return , my son David : for I will no more do thee harm , because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day : behold , I have played the fool , and have erred exceedingly . And David answered and said , Behold the king's spear ! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it . The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness : for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day , but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed . And , behold , as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes , so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD , and let him deliver me out of all tribulation . Then Saul said to David , Blessed be thou , my son David : thou shalt both do great things , and also shalt still prevail . So David went on his way , and Saul returned to his place . And David said in his heart , I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul : there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines ; and Saul shall despair of me , to seek me any more in any coast of Israel : so shall I escape out of his hand . And David arose , and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish , the son of Maoch , king of Gath . And David dwelt with Achish at Gath , he and his men , every man with his household , even David with his two wives , Ahinoam the Jezreelitess , and Abigail the Carmelitess , Nabal's wife . And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath : and he sought no more again for him . And David said unto Achish , If I have now found grace in thine eyes , let them give me a place in some town in the country , that I may dwell there : for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee ? Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day : wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day . And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months . And David and his men went up , and invaded the Geshurites , and the Gezrites , and the Amalekites : for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land , as thou goest to Shur , even unto the land of Egypt . And David smote the land , and left neither man nor woman alive , and took away the sheep , and the oxen , and the asses , and the camels , and the apparel , and returned , and came to Achish . And Achish said , Whither have ye made a road to day ? And David said , Against the south of Judah , and against the south of the Jerahmeelites , and against the south of the Kenites . And David saved neither man nor woman alive , to bring tidings to Gath , saying , Lest they should tell on us , saying , So did David , and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines . And Achish believed David , saying , He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him ; therefore he shall be my servant for ever . And it came to pass in those days , that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare , to fight with Israel . And Achish said unto David , Know thou assuredly , that thou shalt go out with me to battle , thou and thy men . And David said to Achish , Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do . And Achish said to David , Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever . Now Samuel was dead , and all Israel had lamented him , and buried him in Ramah , even in his own city . And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits , and the wizards , out of the land . And the Philistines gathered themselves together , and came and pitched in Shunem : and Saul gathered all Israel together , and they pitched in Gilboa . And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines , he was afraid , and his heart greatly trembled . And when Saul inquired of the LORD , the LORD answered him not , neither by dreams nor by Urim , nor by prophets . Then said Saul 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 to him , Behold , there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor . And Saul disguised himself , and put on other raiment , and he went , and two men with him , and they came to the woman by night : and he said , I pray thee , divine unto me by the familiar spirit , and bring me him up , whom I shall name unto thee . And the woman said unto him , Behold , thou knowest what Saul hath done , how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits , and the wizards , out of the land : wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life , to cause me to die ? And Saul sware to her by the LORD , saying , As the LORD liveth , there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing . Then said the woman , Whom shall I bring up unto thee ? And he said , Bring me up Samuel . And when the woman saw Samuel , she cried with a loud voice : and the woman spake to Saul , saying , Why hast thou deceived me ? for thou art Saul . And the king said unto her , Be not afraid : for what sawest thou ? And the woman said unto Saul , I saw gods ascending out of the earth . And he said unto her , What form is he of ? And she said , An old man cometh up ; and he is covered with a mantle . And Saul perceived that it was Samuel , and he stooped with his face to the ground , and bowed himself . And Samuel said to Saul , Why hast thou disquieted me , to bring me up ? And Saul answered , I am sore distressed ; for the Philistines make war against me , and God is departed from me , and answereth me no more , neither by prophets , nor by dreams : therefore I have called thee , that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do . Then said Samuel , Wherefore then dost thou ask of me , seeing the LORD is departed from thee , and is become thine enemy ? And the LORD hath done to him , as he spake by me : for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand , and given it to thy neighbour , even to David : Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD , nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek , therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day . Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines : and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me : the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines . Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth , and was sore afraid , because of the words of Samuel : and there was no strength in him ; for he had eaten no bread all the day , nor all the night . And the woman came unto Saul , and saw that he was sore troubled , and said unto him , Behold , thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice , and I have put my life in my hand , and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me . Now therefore , I pray thee , hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid , and let me set a morsel of bread before thee ; and eat , that thou mayest have strength , when thou goest on thy way . But he refused , and said , I will not eat . But his servants , together with the woman , compelled him ; and he hearkened unto their voice . So he arose from the earth , and sat upon the bed . And the woman had a fat calf in the house ; and she hasted , and killed it , and took flour , and kneaded it , and did bake unleavened bread thereof : And she brought it before Saul , and before his servants ; and they did eat . Then they rose up , and went away that night . Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek : and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel . And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds , and by thousands : but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish . Then said the princes of the Philistines , What do these Hebrews here ? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines , Is not this David , the servant of Saul the king of Israel , which hath been with me these days , or these years , and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day ? And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him ; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him , Make this fellow return , that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him , and let him not go down with us to battle , lest in the battle he be an adversary to us : for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master ? should it not be with the heads of these men ? Is not this David , of whom they sang one to another in dances , saying , Saul slew his thousands , and David his ten thousands ? Then Achish called David , and said unto him , Surely , as the LORD liveth , thou hast been upright , and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight : for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day : nevertheless the lords favour thee not . Wherefore now return , and go in peace , that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines . And David said unto Achish , But what have I done ? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day , that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king ? And Achish answered and said to David , I know that thou art good in my sight , as an angel of God : notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said , He shall not go up with us to the battle . Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee : and as soon as ye be up early in the morning , and have light , depart . So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning , to return into the land of the Philistines . And the Philistines went up to Jezreel . And it came to pass , when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day , that the Amalekites had invaded the south , and Ziklag , and smitten Ziklag , and burned it with fire ; And had taken the women captives , that were therein : they slew not any , either great or small , but carried them away , and went on their way . So 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 captives . Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept , until they had no more power to weep . And David's two wives were taken captives , Ahinoam the Jezreelitess , and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite . And David was greatly distressed ; for the people spake of stoning him , because the soul of all the people was grieved , every man for his sons and for his daughters : but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God . And David said to Abiathar the priest , Ahimelech's son , I pray thee , bring me hither the ephod . And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David . And David inquired at the LORD , saying , Shall I pursue after this troop ? shall I overtake them ? And he answered him , Pursue : for thou shalt surely overtake them , and without fail recover all . So David went , he and the six hundred men that were with him , and came to the brook Besor , where those that were left behind stayed . But David pursued , he and four hundred men : for two hundred abode behind , which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor . And they found an Egyptian in the field , and brought him to David , and gave him bread , and he did eat ; and they made him drink water ; And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs , and two clusters of raisins : and when he had eaten , his spirit came again to him : for he had eaten no bread , nor drunk any water , three days and three nights . And David said unto him , To whom belongest thou ? and whence art thou ? And he said , I am a young man of Egypt , servant to an Amalekite ; and my master left me , because three days agone I fell sick . We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites , and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah , and upon the south of Caleb ; and we burned Ziklag with fire . And David said to him , Canst thou bring me down to this company ? And he said , Swear unto me by God , that thou wilt neither kill me , nor deliver me into the hands of my master , and I will bring thee down to this company . And when he had brought him down , behold , they were spread abroad upon all the earth , eating and drinking , and dancing , because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines , and out of the land of Judah . And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day : and there escaped not a man of them , save four hundred young men , which rode upon camels , and fled . And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away : and David rescued his two wives . And there was nothing lacking to them , neither small nor great , neither sons nor daughters , neither spoil , nor any thing that they had taken to them : David recovered all . And David took all the flocks and the herds , which they drave before those other cattle , and said , This is David's spoil . And David came to the two hundred men , which were so faint that they could not follow David , whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor : and they went forth to meet David , and to meet the people that were with him : and when David came near to the people , he saluted them . Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial , of those that went with David , and said , Because they went not with us , we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered , save to every man his wife and his children , that they may lead them away , and depart . Then said David , Ye shall not do so , my brethren , with that which the LORD hath given us , who hath preserved us , and delivered the company that came against us into our hand . For who will hearken unto you in this matter ? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle , so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff : they shall part alike . And it was so from that day forward , that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day . And when David came to Ziklag , he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah , even to his friends , saying , Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD ; To them which were in Bethel , and to them which were in south Ramoth , and to them which were in Jattir , And to them which were in Aroer , and to them which were in Siphmoth , and to them which were in Eshtemoa , And to them which were in Rachal , and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites , and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites , And to them which were in Hormah , and to them which were in Chor-ashan , and to them which were in Athach , And to them which were in Hebron , and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt . Now the Philistines fought against Israel : and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines , and fell down slain in mount Gilboa . And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons ; and the Philistines slew Jonathan , and Abinadab , and Malchi-shua , Saul's sons . And the battle went sore against Saul , and the archers hit him ; and he was sore wounded of the archers . Then said Saul unto his armourbearer , Draw thy sword , and thrust me through therewith ; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through , and abuse me . But his armourbearer would not ; for he was sore afraid . Therefore Saul took a sword , and fell upon it . And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead , he fell likewise upon his sword , and died with him . So Saul died , and his three sons , and his armourbearer , and all his men , that same day together . And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley , and they 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 . And it came to pass on the morrow , when the Philistines came to strip the slain , that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa . And they cut off his head , and stripped off his armour , and sent into the land of the Philistines round about , to publish it in the house of their idols , and among the people . And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth : and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan . And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul ; All the valiant men arose , and went all night , and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan , and came to Jabesh , and burnt them there . And they took their bones , and buried them under a tree at Jabesh , and fasted seven days .