Their defenceless state.

The Philistines' garrison.

B. C.

+ Heb. Geba, 1 ver, 3.

16 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.

17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto Josh. 12. 23. the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:

18 And another company turned 16.3.& the way to Beth-horon and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the Net 11. 34. valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

2 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 ;

a ch. 13. 15.

bch. 22. 9, 11,

Ahimelech. c ch. 4. 21.

3 AndAhiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And & ch. 2. 28. the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

OW it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that

4 ¶ 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.

e ch. 13. 23.

5 The forefront of the one was situ-† Heb. tooth. ate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

6 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.

7 And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart : turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

f Judg. 7. 4, 7. 2 Chr. 14. 11.

9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry + Heb. Be still. until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

10 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 See Gen. 24. us. 14. Judg. 7.

11 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.

12 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.

13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his

11.

The Philistines smitten.

B. C.

armourbearer after him: and they about 1087. fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were a half acre of land, which a acre of land, yoke of oxen might plough.

|| Or, half a furrow of an

Judg. 7. 21.

h2 Kings 7.7. Job 18. 11.

í ch. 13. 17.

15 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 + Heb. a trem quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

bling of God.

k Gen. 35, 5.

1 ver. 20

m Num. 27. 21. Or, tumult.

† Heb. were cried togeth

er.

a Judg. 7. 22. 2 Chr. 20, 23.

c ch. 13. 6.

P Ex. 14. 30. Ps. 44. 6. 7. Hos. 1. 7.

q ch. 13. 5.

r Josh. 6. 26.

Deut. 9. 28.
Matt. 3. 5.

t Ex. 3. 8.

Num. 13. 27.
Matt. 3. 4.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

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

18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God: for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

22 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. 23 PSo the LORD saved Israel that day and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.

21 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.

25And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was 'honey upon the ground.

The trespass of Jonathan.

B. C.

26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey about 1087. dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

27 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 a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

28 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 I faint.

29 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.

30 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?

31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon : and the people were very faint.

32 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.

33 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.

|| Or, weary.

u Lev. 3. 17. & 7. 26. & 17. 10. & 19. 26. Deut. 12. 16, 23, 24.

Or, dealt treacherously.

34 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 Heb. in his night, and slew them there.

35 And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.

36 ¶ 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.

37 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 about 1087. not that day.

38 And Saul said, "Draw ye near Heb. cornera hither, all the chief of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day:

Judg. 20. 2. 7 ch. 28. 6.

1 Josh. 7. 14. ch. 10. 19.

a 2 Sam. 12 5.

39 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.

40 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.

41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD Or, Shew the God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people + escaped.

innocent.

Heb. went forth

Prov. 16. 33. Acts 1. 24.

Josh. 7. 16. ch. 10. 20, 21.

1 Josh. 7. 19. ⚫ ver. 27.

! Ruth 1. 17. & ver. 39

b 2 Sam. 14.

1. 52. Luke

с

42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

43 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.

44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid as the LORD liveth, there ing shall not one hair of his head fall 21.12 to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

Saul sent to destroy Amalek.

51 And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

52 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.

CHAPTER XV.

Samuel sendeth Saul to destroy Amalek. 6 Saul favoureth the Kenites. 8 He spareth Agag and the best of the spoil. 10 Samuel announceth unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience. 24 Saul's humiliation. 32 Samuel killeth Agag. 34 Samuel and Saul part.

B. C.

about 1087.

n ch. 9. 1.

o Ph. 8. 11.

6 T 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.

& Num. 21. 21. Judg. 1. 16. & 4. 11.

e Gen. 18. 25. & 19. 12, 14. Rev. 18. 4.

f Ex. 18. 10. 19. Num. 10. 29, 32.

5 ch. 14. 48. h Gen. 2. 11. & 25. 18.

i Gen. 16. 7.

7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of k See 1 Kings the Amalekites alive, and 'utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

m

20. 34, 35, &c. 1 See ch. 30. 1.

m ver. S, 15.

second sort.

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and||||Or. of the 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.

10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

0

11 " 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.

n ver. 35. Gen. 6. 6, 7, 2 Sam. 24. 16. o Josh. 22. 16. 1 Kings 9. 6. p ch. 13. 13. ver. 3, 9.

$ Gen. 14. 19. Judg. 17. 2. Ruth 3. 10.

t ver. 9, 21. Gen. 3. 12. Prov. 28. 13.

u ch. 9. 21.

↑ Heb. they

consume

them.

x ver. 13.

y ver. 15.

z Ps. 50. 8, 9.
Prov. 21. 3.
Is. 1. 11, 12,
13, 16, 17.

Jer. 7. 22, 23.
Mic. 6, 6, 7, 8.

8

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

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

15 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.

16 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.

17 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?

18 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.

19 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?

20 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.

21 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.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and Heb. 10. 6, 7, sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than Matt. 5. 24. & the fat of rams.

8,9.

a Ecc. 5. 1. Hos. 6. 6.

9. 13. & 12.7. Mark 12. 33.

tion, Deut.

18. 10.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of +Heb. divina 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.

b ch. 13. 14.

Samuel slayeth Agag.

thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

26 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.

B. C. about 1079.

d Ex, 23, 2. Prov. 29. 25. Is. 51. 12, 13.

e See ch. 2. $0.

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, 'he laid hold upon the skirt See 1 Kings of his mantle, and it rent.

11. 30.

5 ch. 28, 17, 18, 1 Kings 11.31.

Or, Eternity, or, Victory.

h Num. 23. 19. Ez. 24. 14. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Tit. 1. 2.

12. 43.

30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, i John 5. 44. & before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

32 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.

for Saul, seeing I have rejected him b ch. 15. 23. from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among Ps. 78. 70. & his sons.

2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

e

89. 19, 20, Acts 13. 22.

+ Heb.in thine

hand,

e ch. 9. 12. & ! 20. 29.

à ch. 21. 1.

+ Heb. meeting.

1 Kings 2. 13. 2 Kings 3.22.

4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, 'Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: * Ex 19.10,14. * sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

9 heart.

8 Then Jesse called 'Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are

Saul sendeth for David.

B. C.

to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play about 1063. with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

e ver. 23.

2 Kings 3. 15.

18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and fafch. 17. 32, 34, mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, h which is with the sheep.

20 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.

35, 36.

| Or, speech. 8 ch. 3. 19. &

18. 12, 14.

hver. 11. ch. 17. 15, 34.

iSee ch. 10. 27.

& 17. 18. Gen. 43. 11. Prov. 18. 16.

CHAPTER XVII.

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.

+

for battle. 4 Goliath's challenge. 12 David is sent by his father to visit his brethren. 28 Eliab chideth him. 32 David accepteth the challenge, and sheweth the ground of his confidence. 38 He slayeth Goliath, 55 Saul asketh about David. TOW the Philistines together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

7 30 ch. 9. 17.

13 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

b

went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit 10r. terrified from the LORD troubled him.

a ch. 13. 5.

b Josh. 15. 35. 2 Chr. 28. 18.

|| Or, The coast of Dammim, called Pas-dammim, 1 Chr. 11. 13.

2 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 Philis- Heb. ranged tines.

3 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.

d

the battle.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, e2Sam. 21. 19. whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 And he had a helmet of brass

d Josh. 11. 22.