1 Samuel (Shemuel 1)

1 SAMUEL

1

1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of Mount Efrayim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.

2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto N8a יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot) in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests (kohanim) of יהוה, were there.

4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions.

5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah; but יהוה had shut up her womb.

6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because יהוה had shut up her womb.

7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of יהוה, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her, “Hannah, why weepest you? And why eatest you not? And why is your heart grieved? Am not I better to you than ten sons?”

9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest (kohen) sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of יהוה.

10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto יהוה, and wept sore.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, “O יהוה of host (YHWH Tsevaot), if You wilt indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Your handmaid, but wilt give unto Your handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto יהוה all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before יהוה, that Eli marked her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, “How long wilt you be drunken? Put away your wine from you.”

15 And Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord (adoni), I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before יהוה.

16 Count not your handmaid for a scoundrel (beliyaal) daughter; for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken until now.”

17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) grant you your petition that you have asked of Him.”

18 And she said, “Let your handmaid find grace in your sight.” So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

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

20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name N36Samuel (Shemuel), saying, “Because I have asked him of יהוה.”

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto יהוה the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22 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 יהוה, and there abide forever.”

23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, “Do what seemeth you good; tarry until you have weaned him; only יהוה establish His word.” So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24 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 יהוה in Shiloh; and the child was young.

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26 And she said, “Oh my lord (adoni), as your soul liveth, my lord (adoni), I am the woman that stood by you here, praying unto יהוה.

27 For this child I prayed; and יהוה hath given me my petition which I asked of Him.

28 Therefore also I have lent him to יהוה; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to יהוה.” And he worshipped יהוה there.

2

1 And Hannah prayed, and said, “My heart rejoiceth in יהוה, mine horn is exalted in יהוה; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Your salvation.

2 There is none holy as יהוה, for there is none besides You; nor is there any Rock like our God (Elohim).

3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth, for יהוה is a God (Elohim) of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

5 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 are waxed feeble.

6 יהוה killeth, and maketh alive; He bringeth down to the 32grave (sheol), and bringeth up.

7 יהוה maketh poor, and maketh rich; He bringeth low, and lifteth up.

8 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 יהוה’s, and He hath set the world upon them.

9 He will keep the feet of His 31bfaithful ones (chasidim), and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

10 The adversaries of יהוה shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall He thunder upon them; יהוה shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed (mashiach).”

11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto יהוה before Eli the priest (kohen).

12 Now the sons of Eli were scoundrel sons (beliyaal); they knew not יהוה.

13 And the priests’ (kohanim) custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest (kohen)’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest (kohen) took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Yisraelites that came thither.

15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest (kohen)’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, “Give flesh to roast for the priest (kohen); for he will not have sodden flesh of you, but raw.”

16 And if any man said unto him, “Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as your soul desireth;” then he would answer him, “Nay, but you shalt give it me now; and if not, I will take it by force.”

17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before יהוה; for men abhorred the offering of יהוה.

18 But Shemuel ministered before יהוה, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

19 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.

20 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “יהוה give you seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to יהוה.” And they went unto their own home.

21 And יהוה visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Shemuel grew before יהוה.

22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Yisrael; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

23 And he said unto them, “Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.

24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear; you make יהוה’s people to transgress.

25 If one man sins against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sins against יהוה, who shall intreat for him?” Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because יהוה would slay them.

26 And the child Shemuel grew on, and was in favor both with יהוה, and also with men.

27 And there came a man of God (Elohim) unto Eli, and said unto him, “Thus saith יהוה: ‘Did I plainly appear unto the house of your father, when they were in Egypt (Mitsrayim) in Pharaoh (Paroh)’s house?

28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Yisrael to be My priest (kohen), to offer upon Mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me? And did I give unto the house of your father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Yisrael?

29 Wherefore kick you at My sacrifice and at Mine offering, which I have commanded in My habitation; and honourest your sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Yisrael My people?’

30 Wherefore יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) saith: ‘I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before Me forever’; but now יהוה saith: ‘Be it far from Me; for them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.

32 And you shalt see an enemy in My habitation, in all the wealth which God (Elohim) shall give Yisrael; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

33 And the man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from Mine altar, shall be to consume your eyes, and to grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age.

34 And this shall be a sign unto you, that shall come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.

35 And I will raise Me up a faithful priest (kohen), that shall do according to that which is in Mine heart and in My mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before Mine anointed forever.

36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in your house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, “Please put me into one of the priests’ offices (kehunnah), that I may eat a piece of bread.”’”

3

1 And the child Shemuel ministered unto יהוה before Eli. And the word of יהוה was precious in those days; there was no open vision (chazon).

2 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;

3 And ere the lamp of God (Elohim) went out in the temple of יהוה, where the ark of God (Elohim) was, and Shemuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That יהוה called Shemuel; and he answered, “Here am I.”

5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you calledst me.” And he said, “I called not; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.

6 And יהוה called yet again, “Shemuel!” And Shemuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you didst call me.” And he answered, “I called not, my son; lie down again.”

7 Now Shemuel did not yet know יהוה, nor was the word of יהוה yet revealed unto him.

8 And יהוה called Shemuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here am I; for you didst call me.” And Eli perceived that יהוה had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Shemuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He call you, that you shalt say, ‘Speak, יהוה; for Your servant heareth.’” So Shemuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And יהוה came, and stood, and called as at other times, “Shemuel! Shemuel!” Then Shemuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant heareth.”

11 And יהוה said to Shemuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Yisrael, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12 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.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.”

15 And Shemuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of יהוה. And Shemuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

16 Then Eli called Shemuel, and said, “Shemuel, my son!” And he answered, “Here am I.”

17 And he said, “What is the thing that יהוה hath said unto you? Please hide it not from me. God (Elohim) do so to you, and more also, if you hide any thing from me of all the things that He said unto you.”

18 And Shemuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is יהוה; let Him do what seemeth Him good.”

19 And Shemuel grew, and יהוה was with him, and did let none of His words fall to the ground.

20 And all Yisrael from Dan even to Beer-Sheva knew that Shemuel was established to be a prophet of יהוה.

21 And יהוה appeared again in Shiloh; for יהוה revealed Himself to Shemuel in Shiloh by the word of יהוה.

4

1 And the word of Shemuel came to all Yisrael. Now Yisrael went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Yisrael; and when they joined battle, Yisrael was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Yisrael said, “Why hath יהוה smitten us today before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of יהוה out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.”

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot), who dwelleth between the cherubims (keruvim); and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God (Elohim).

5 And when the ark of the covenant of יהוה came into the camp, all Yisrael shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews (Ivrim)? And they understood that the ark of יהוה was come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God (Elohim) has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe unto us! For there hath not been such a thing happened before.

8 Woe unto us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these great gods (elohim)? These are the gods (elohim) that smote the Egyptians (Mitsrayim) with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 Be strong, and behave yourselves like men, O you Philistines, that you be not servants unto the Hebrews (Ivrim), as they have been to you; behave yourselves like men, and fight!”

10 And the Philistines fought, and Yisrael was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent; and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Yisrael thirty thousand footmen.

11 And the ark of God (Elohim) was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12 And there ran a man of Benjamin (Binyamin) out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

13 And when he came, behold, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God (Elohim). And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

14 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.

15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.

16 And the man said unto Eli, “I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army.” And he said, “How did things go, my son?”

17 And the messenger answered and said, “Yisrael has fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God (Elohim) is taken.”

18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God (Elohim), that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Yisrael forty years.

19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas’s wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God (Elohim) was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, “Fear not; for you have born a son.” But she answered not, nor did she regard it.

21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Yisrael, because the ark of God (Elohim) was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.”

22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Yisrael; for the ark of God (Elohim) was taken.”

5

1 And the Philistines took the ark of God (Elohim), and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

2 When the Philistines took the ark of God (Elohim), they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

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

4 And when they arose early on the next day morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of יהוה; 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.

5 Therefore neither the priests (kohanim) of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

6 But the hand of יהוה was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and He destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) shall not abide with us; for His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god (eloheinu).

8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords (seranim) of the Philistines unto them, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael)?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) be carried about unto Gath.” And they carried the ark of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) about thither.

9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of יהוה 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.

10 Therefore they sent the ark of God (Elohim) to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God (Elohim) came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) to us, to slay us and our people.”

11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords (seranim) of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), and let it go again to its own place, that it slays us not, and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God (Elohim) was very heavy there.

12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

6

1 And the ark of יהוה was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

2 And the Philistines called for the priests (kohanim) and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do to the ark of יהוה? Tell us wherewith we shall send it to its place.”

3 And they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), send it not empty; but in any wise return Him a trespass offering; then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”

4 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 (seranim) of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords (seranim).

5 Wherefore you shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory unto the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael); peradventure He will lighten His hand from off you, and from off your gods (elohim), and from off your land.

6 Wherefore then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians (Mitsrayim) and Pharaoh (Paroh) hardened their hearts? When He had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?

7 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.

8 And take the ark of יהוה, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which you return Him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Beit-Shemesh, then he hath done us this great evil; but if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us.”

10 And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

11 And they laid the ark of יהוה upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Beit-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 (seranim) of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beit-Shemesh.

13 And they of Beit-Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua (Yehoshua), a Beit-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 יהוה.

15 And the Levites (Lewiyim) took down the ark of יהוה, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Beit-Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto יהוה.

16 And when the five lords (seranim) of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto יהוה: for Ashdod one, for Gaza (Azzah) one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords (seranim), both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Avel, whereon they set down the ark of יהוה, which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua (Yehoshua), the Beit-Shemite.

19 And He smote the men of Beit-Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of יהוה, even He smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men; and the people lamented, because יהוה had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

20 And the men of Beit-Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy God (Elohim) יהוה? And to whom shall He go up from us?”

21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Qiryat-Yearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought again the ark of יהוה; come you down, and fetch it up to you.”

7

1 And the men of Qiryat-Yearim came, and fetched up the ark of יהוה, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of יהוה.

2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Qiryat-Yearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Yisrael lamented after יהוה.

3 And Shemuel spake unto all the house of Yisrael, saying, “If you do return unto יהוה with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods (elohim) and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto יהוה, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 Then the children of Yisrael did put away Baals (Baalim) and Ashtaroth, and served יהוה only.”

5 And Shemuel said, “Gather all Yisrael to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto יהוה.”

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before יהוה, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against יהוה.” And Shemuel judged the children of Yisrael in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Yisrael were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords (seranim) of the Philistines went up against Yisrael. And when the children of Yisrael heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Yisrael said to Shemuel, “Cease not to cry unto יהוה our God (Elohim) for us, that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

9 And Shemuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto יהוה; and Shemuel cried unto יהוה for Yisrael; and יהוה heard him.

10 And as Shemuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Yisrael; but יהוה thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Yisrael.

11 And the men of Yisrael went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

12 Then Shemuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far hath יהוה helped us.”

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Yisrael; and the hand of יהוה was against the Philistines all the days of Shemuel.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Yisrael were restored to Yisrael, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Yisrael deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Yisrael and the Amorites.

15 And Shemuel judged Yisrael all the days of his life.

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel (Beit-El), and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Yisrael in all those places.

17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Yisrael; and there he built an altar unto יהוה.

8

1 And it came to pass, when Shemuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Yisrael.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Yoel; and the name of his second, Aviyah; they were judges in Beer-Sheva.

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

4 Then all the elders of Yisrael gathered themselves together, and came to Shemuel unto Ramah,

5 And said unto him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons walk not in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6 But the thing displeased Shemuel, when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Shemuel prayed unto יהוה.

7 And יהוה said unto Shemuel, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt (Mitsrayim) even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods (elohim), so do they also unto you.

9 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.”

10 And Shemuel told all the words of יהוה unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 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.

12 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.

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

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and you shall be his servants.

18 And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you shall have chosen you; and יהוה will not hear you in that day.”

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Shemuel; and they said, “Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20 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.

21 And Shemuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of יהוה.

22 And יהוה said to Shemuel, “Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.” And Shemuel said unto the men of Yisrael, “Go you every man unto his city.”

9

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin (Binyamin), whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite (Ben-Yemini), a mighty man of power.

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly; and there was not among the children of Yisrael a goodlier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, “Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses.”

4 And he passed through mount Efrayim, 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 (Ben-yemini), but they found them not.

5 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.”

6 And he said unto him, “Behold now, there is in this city a man of God (Elohim), and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; perhaps he can shew us our way that we should go.”

7 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 (Elohim); what have we?”

8 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 (Elohim), to tell us our way.”

9 (Beforetime in Yisrael, when a man went to enquire of God (Elohim), thus he spake, “Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer.)

10 Then said Saul to his servant, “Well said; come, let us go.” So they went unto the city where the man of God (Elohim) was.

11 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?”

12 And they answered them, and said, “He is; behold, he is before you; make haste now, for he came today to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people today in the high place.

13 As soon as you be come into the city, you shall straightway find him, before he goes 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 up; for about this time you shall find him.”

14 And they went up into the city; and when they were come into the city, behold, Shemuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.

15 Now יהוה had told Shemuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin (Binyamin), and you shalt anoint him to be captain over My people Yisrael, that he may save My people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come unto Me.”

17 And when Shemuel saw Saul, יהוה said unto him, “Behold the man whom I spake to you of! This same shall reign over My people.”

18 Then Saul drew near to Shemuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”

19 And Shemuel answered Saul, and said, “I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place; for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.

20 And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Yisrael? Is it not on you, and on all your father’s house?”

21 And Saul answered and said, “Am not I a Benjamin (Binyamin), of the smallest of the tribes of Yisrael? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin (Binyamin)? Why then speakest you so to me?”

22 And Shemuel 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.

23 And Shemuel said unto the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said unto you, ‘Set it by you;”

24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Shemuel said, “Behold that which is left! Set it before you, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for you since I said, I have invited the people.” So Saul did eat with Shemuel that day.

25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Shemuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

26 And they arose early; and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Shemuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, “Up, that I may send you away.” And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Shemuel, abroad.

27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Shemuel said to Saul, “Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand you still a while, that I may shew you the word of God (Elohim).”

10

1 Then Shemuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, “Is it not because יהוה hath anointed you to be captain over His inheritance?

2 When you are departed from me today, then you shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin (Binyamin) at Zelzah; and they will say unto you, ‘The asses which you wentest to seek are found; and, behold, your father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, “What shall I do for my son?”’

3 Then shalt you go on forward from thence, and you shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet you three men going up to God (Elohim) to Bethel (Beit-El), one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.

4 And they will salute you, and give you two loaves of bread; which you shalt receive of their hands.

5 After that you shalt come to the hill of God (Elohim), where is the garrison of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass, when you are come thither to the city, that you 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.

6 And the Spirit of יהוה will come upon you, and you shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto you, that you do as occasion serve you; for God (Elohim) is with you.

8 And you shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt you tarry, till I come to you, and shew you what you shalt do.”

9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Shemuel, God (Elohim) gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.

10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God (Elohim) came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

11 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?”

12 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?”

13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.

14 And Saul’s uncle said unto him and to his servant, “Whither went you?” And he said, “To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Shemuel.”

15 And Saul’s uncle said, “Please tell me what Shemuel said unto you.”

16 And Saul said unto his uncle, “He told us plainly that the asses were found.” But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Shemuel spake, he told him not.

17 And Shemuel called the people together unto יהוה to Mizpeh;

18 And said unto the children of Yisrael, “Thus saith יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael): ‘I brought up Yisrael out of Egypt (Mitsrayim), and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians (Mitsrayim), and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you.’

19 And you have this day rejected your God (Elohim), who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said unto Him, ‘Nay, but set a king over us!’ Now therefore present yourselves before יהוה by your tribes, and by your clans.”

20 And when Shemuel had caused all the tribes of Yisrael to come near, the tribe of Benjamin (Binyamin) was taken.

21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin (Binyamin) 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.

22 Therefore they enquired of יהוה further, if the man should yet come thither. And יהוה answered, “Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.”

23 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.

24 And Shemuel said to all the people, “See you him whom יהוה hath chosen, that there is none like Him among all the people?” And all the people shouted, and said, “Long live the king!”

25 Then Shemuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before יהוה. And Shemuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God (Elohim) had touched.

27 But the scoundrel (beliyaal) children said, “How shall this man save us?” And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

11

1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Yavesh-Gilad; and all the men of Yavesh said unto Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.”

2 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 Yisrael.”

3 And the elders of Yavesh said unto him, “Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Yisrael. And then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to you.”

4 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.

5 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 Yavesh.

6 And the Spirit of God (Elohim) came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Yisrael by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Shemuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen.” And the fear of יהוה fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Yisrael were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah (Yehudah) thirty thousand.

9 And they said unto the messengers that came, “Thus shall you say unto the men of Yavesh-Gilad: ‘Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, you shall have help.’” And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Yavesh; and they were glad.

10 Therefore the men of Yavesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and you shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.”

11 And it was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And it came to pass, that they who remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

12 And the people said unto Shemuel, “Who is he that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.”

13 And Saul said, “There shall not a man be put to death this day; for today יהוה hath wrought salvation in Yisrael.”

14 Then said Shemuel to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.”

15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before יהוה in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before יהוה; and there Saul and all the men of Yisrael rejoiced greatly.

12

1 And Shemuel said unto all Yisrael: “Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that you said unto me, and have made a king over you.

2 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.

3 Behold, here I am. Witness against me before יהוה, and before His anointed (mashiach); 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.”

4 And they said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man’s hand.”

5 And he said unto them, “יהוה is witness against you, and His anointed (mashiach) is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they answered, “He is witness.”

6 And Shemuel said unto the people, “It is יהוה that advanced Moses (Mosheh) and Aaron (Aharon), and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim).

7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before יהוה of all the righteous acts of יהוה, which He did to you and to your fathers:

8 When Jacob (Yaaqov) was come into Egypt (Mitsrayim), and your fathers cried unto יהוה, then יהוה sent Moses (Mosheh) and Aaron (Aharon), which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt (Mitsrayim), and made them dwell in this place.

9 And when they forgat יהוה their God (Elohim), He sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moav, and they fought against them.

10 And they cried unto יהוה, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken יהוה, and have served 34Baals (Baalim) and Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’

11 And יהוה sent Yerubaal, and Bedan, and Yiftach, and Shemuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you dwelled safe.

12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said unto me, ‘Nay, but a king shall reign over us,’ when יהוה your God (Elohim) was your King.

13 Now therefore behold the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have desired! And, behold, יהוה hath set a king over you.

14 If you will fear יהוה, and serve Him, and obey His voice, and not rebel against the commandment of יהוה, then shall both you and also the king that reigneth over you continue following יהוה your God (Elohim);

15 But if you will not obey the voice of יהוה, but rebel against the commandment of יהוה, then shall the hand of יהוה be against you, as it was against your fathers.

16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which יהוה will do before your eyes:

17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto יהוה, and He shall send thunder and rain; that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of יהוה, in asking for yourselves a king.”

18 So Shemuel called unto יהוה; and יהוה sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared יהוה and Shemuel.

19 And all the people said unto Shemuel, “Pray for your servants unto יהוה your God (Elohim), that we die not; for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”

20 And Shemuel said unto the people, “Fear not. You have done all this wickedness; yet turn not aside from following יהוה, but serve יהוה with all your heart;

21 And turn you not aside; for then should you go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

22 For יהוה will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake, because it hath pleased יהוה to make you His people.

23 Moreover as for me, God (Elohim) forbid that I should sin against יהוה in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

24 Only fear יהוה, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things He hath done for you.

25 But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king.”

13

1 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Yisrael,

2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Yisrael; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in Mount Bethel (Beit-El), and a thousand were with Jonathan (Yehonatan) in Gibeah of Benjamin (Binyamin); and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

3 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) 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 (Ivrim) hear!”

4 And all Yisrael heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Yisrael also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Yisrael, 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 Beit Aven.

6 When the men of Yisrael 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.

7 And some of the Hebrews (Ivrim) went over Jordan (Yarden) to the land of Gad and Gilad. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Shemuel had appointed. But Shemuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said, “Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.”

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Shemuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

11 And Shemuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, ‘The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto יהוה.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.”

13 And Shemuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of יהוה your God (Elohim), which He commanded you; for now would יהוה have established your kingdom upon Yisrael forever.

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. יהוה hath sought Him a man after His own heart, and יהוה hath commanded him to be captain over His people, because you have not kept that which יהוה commanded you.”

15 And Shemuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin (Binyamin). And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

16 And Saul, and Jonathan (Yehonatan) his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin (Binyamin); 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 the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;

18 And another company turned the way to Beit-Choron; and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

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

20 But all the Yisraelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.

21 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.

22 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 (Yehonatan); but with Saul and with Jonathan (Yehonatan) his son was there found.

23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

14

1 Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan (Yehonatan) 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.

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;

3 And Achiyah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, יהוה’s priest (kohen) in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan (Yehonatan) was gone.

4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan (Yehonatan) 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.

5 The forefront of the one was situated northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah.

6 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) 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 יהוה will work for us; for there is no restraint to יהוה to save by many or by few.”

7 And his armourbearer said unto him, “Do all that is in your heart. Turn you; behold, I am with you according to your heart.”

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

9 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.

10 But if they say thus, ‘Come up unto us,’ then we will go up; for יהוה hath delivered them into our hand; and this shall be a sign unto us.”

11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, “Behold, the Hebrews (Ivrim) come forth out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.”

12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan (Yehonatan) and his armourbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing.” And Jonathan (Yehonatan) said unto his armourbearer, “Come up after me, for יהוה hath delivered them into the hand of Yisrael.”

13 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan (Yehonatan); and his armourbearer slew after him.

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

15 And there was trembling in the camp, 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.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin (Binyamin) 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 (Yehonatan) and his armourbearer were not there.

18 And Saul said unto Achiyah, “Bring hither the ark of God (Elohim).” For the ark of God (Elohim) was at that time with the children of Yisrael.

19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest (kohen), that the noise that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest (kohen), “Withdraw your 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 (Ivrim) 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 Yisraelites that were with Saul and Jonathan (Yehonatan).

22 Likewise all the men of Yisrael which had hid themselves in mount Efrayim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 So יהוה saved Yisrael that day; and the battle passed over unto Beit Aven.

24 And the men of Yisrael 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.

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

26 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.

27 But Jonathan (Yehonatan) 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, “Your father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day.’” And the people were faint.

29 Then said Jonathan (Yehonatan), “My father hath troubled the land. Please see, 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 today 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 Aiyalon; 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 יהוה, in that they eat with the blood!” And he said, “You have transgressed; roll a great stone unto me this day.”

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 יהוה in eating with the blood.’” And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

35 And Saul built an altar unto יהוה; the same was the first altar that he built unto יהוה.

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 you.” Then said the priest (kohen), “Let us draw near hither unto God (Elohim).”

37 And Saul asked counsel of God (Elohim), “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Wilt you deliver them into the hand of Yisrael?” But He answered him not that day.

38 And Saul said, “Draw you near hither, all the chief of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.

39 For, as יהוה liveth, which saveth Yisrael, though it be in Jonathan (Yehonatan) 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 Yisrael, “Be you on one side, and I and Jonathan (Yehonatan) my son will be on the other side”. And the people said unto Saul, “Do what seemeth good unto you.”

41 Therefore Saul said unto יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), “Give a perfect lot.” And Saul and Jonathan (Yehonatan) were taken; but the people escaped.

42 And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan (Yehonatan) my son.” And Jonathan (Yehonatan) was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan (Yehonatan), “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan (Yehonatan) told him, and said, “I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, behold, I must die!”

44 And Saul answered, “God (Elohim) do so and more also; for you shalt surely die, Jonathan (Yehonatan).”

45 And the people said unto Saul, “Shall Jonathan (Yehonatan) die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Yisrael? God (Elohim) forbid! As יהוה liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God (Elohim) this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan (Yehonatan), that he died not.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 So Saul took the kingdom over Yisrael, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moav, 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.

48 And he gathered an army, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Yisrael out of the hands of them that spoiled them.

49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan (Yehonatan), and Ishui, and Melchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.

50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

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.

15

1 Shemuel also said unto Saul, “יהוה sent me to anoint you to be king over His people, over Yisrael. Now therefore hearken you unto the voice of the words of יהוה.

2 Thus saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot): ‘I remember that which Amalek did to Yisrael, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt (Mitsrayim).

3 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.

4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah (Yehudah).

5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, “Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you shewed kindness to all the children of Yisrael, when they came up out of Egypt (Mitsrayim).” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until you comest to Shur, that is opposite Egypt (Mitsrayim).

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

9 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.

10 Then came the word of יהוה unto Shemuel, saying,

11 I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Shemuel; and he cried unto יהוה all night.

12 And when Shemuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Shemuel, 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.”

13 And Shemuel came to Saul; and Saul said unto him, “Blessed be you of יהוה! I have performed the commandment of יהוה.”

14 And Shemuel 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 יהוה your God (Elohim); and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

16 Then Shemuel said unto Saul, “Stay, and I will tell you what יהוה hath said to me this night.” And he said unto him, “Say on.”

17 And Shemuel said, “When you wast little in your own sight, wast you not made the head of the tribes of Yisrael, and יהוה anointed you king over Yisrael?

18 And יהוה sent you 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 you not obey the voice of יהוה, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of יהוה?”

20 And Saul said unto Shemuel, “Yea, I have obeyed the voice of יהוה, and have gone the way which יהוה 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 יהוה your God (Elohim) in Gilgal.”

22 And Shemuel said, “Hath יהוה as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of יהוה? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of יהוה, He hath also rejected you from being king.”

24 And Saul said unto Shemuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of יהוה, and your words; because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship יהוה.”

26 And Shemuel said unto Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of יהוה, and יהוה hath rejected you from being king over Yisrael.”

27 And as Shemuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

28 And Shemuel said unto him, “יהוה hath rent the kingdom of Yisrael from you this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of yours, that is better than you.

29 And also the Strength of Yisrael will not lie nor repent; for He is not a man, that He should repent.

30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people, and before Yisrael, and turn again with me, that I may worship יהוה your God (Elohim).”

31 So Shemuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped יהוה.

32 Then said Shemuel, “Bring you 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.”

33 And Shemuel said, “As your sword hath made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Shemuel hewed Agag in pieces before יהוה in Gilgal.

34 Then Shemuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

35 And Shemuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; nevertheless Shemuel mourned for Saul; and יהוה regretted that He had made Saul king over Yisrael.

16

1 And יהוה said unto Shemuel, “How long wilt you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Yisrael? Fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse (Yishai) the Bethlehemite; for I have provided Me a king among his sons.

2 And Shemuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me.” And יהוה said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to יהוה.”

3 And call Jesse (Yishai) to the sacrifice, and I will shew you what you shalt do; and you shalt anoint unto Me him whom I name unto you.”

4 And Shemuel did that which יהוה spake, and came to Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem). And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Comest you peaceably?”

5 And he said, “Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto יהוה. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse (Yishai) and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliav, and said, “Surely יהוה’s anointed is before him.”

7 But יהוה said unto Shemuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him; for יהוה seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but יהוה looketh on the heart.”

8 Then Jesse (Yishai) called Abinadab, and made him pass before Shemuel. And he said, “Neither hath יהוה chosen this.”

9 Then Jesse (Yishai) made Shammah to pass by. And he said, “Neither hath יהוה chosen this.”

10 Again, Jesse (Yishai) made seven of his sons to pass before Shemuel. And Shemuel said unto Jesse (Yishai), “יהוה hath not chosen these.”

11 And Shemuel said unto Jesse (Yishai), “Are here all your children?” And he said, “There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.” And Shemuel said unto Jesse (Yishai), “Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither.”

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And יהוה said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he!”

13 Then Shemuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of יהוה came upon Dawid from that day forward. So Shemuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14 But the Spirit of יהוה departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from יהוה troubled him.

15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God (Elohim) troubleth you.

16 Let our lord (adon) now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp; and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God (Elohim) is upon you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shalt be well.”

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

18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse (Yishai) 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 יהוה is with him.”

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse (Yishai), and said, “Send me Dawid your son, which is with the sheep.”

20 And Jesse (Yishai) took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by Dawid his son unto Saul.

21 And Dawid came to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse (Yishai), saying, “Please let Dawid stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.”

23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God (Elohim) was upon Saul, that Dawid took a harp, and played with his hand. So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

17

1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah (Yehudah), and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

2 And Saul and the men of Yisrael were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Yisrael stood on a mountain on the other side; and there was a valley between them.

4 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.

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

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 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.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Yisrael, and said unto them, “Why are you come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 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 you be our servants, and serve us.”

10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Yisrael this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”

11 When Saul and all Yisrael heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

12 Now Dawid was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem) in Yehudah, whose name was Jesse (Yishai); and he had eight sons; and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse (Yishai) went and followed Saul to the battle; and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliav the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 And Dawid was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.

15 But Dawid went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem).

16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17 And Jesse (Yishai) said unto Dawid his son, “Take now for your brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brethren;

18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how your brethren fare, and take their pledge.”

19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Yisrael, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20 And Dawid rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse (Yishai) had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the army was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

21 For Yisrael and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

22 And Dawid left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

23 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 Dawid heard them.

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

25 And the men of Yisrael said, “Have you seen this man that is come up? Surely to defy Yisrael 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 Yisrael.”

26 And Dawid 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 Yisrael? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God (Elohim chayim)?”

27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, “So shall it be done to the man who killeth him.”

28 And Eliav his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliav’s anger was kindled against Dawid, and he said, “Why camest you down hither? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you are come down that you mightest see the battle.”

29 And Dawid said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”

30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner; and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard which Dawid spake, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.

32 And Dawid said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

33 And Saul said to Dawid, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

34 And Dawid said unto Saul, “Your servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock;

35 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.

36 Your 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 (Elohim chayim).”

37 Dawid said moreover, יהוה 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 Dawid, “Go, and יהוה be with you.”

38 And Saul armed Dawid with his armour, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39 And Dawid girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And Dawid said unto Saul, “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.” And Dawid put them off.

40 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.

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto Dawid; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw Dawid, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto Dawid, “Am I a dog, that you comest to me with staves?” And the Philistine cursed Dawid by his gods (elohim).

44 And the Philistine said to Dawid, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.”

45 Then said Dawid to the Philistine, “You comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to you in the name of יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot), the God (Elohim) of the armies of Yisrael, whom you have defied.

46 This day will יהוה deliver you into mine hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcases of the army 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 (Elohim) in Yisrael.

47 And all this assembly shall know that יהוה saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is יהוה’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet Dawid, that Dawid hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And Dawid 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.

50 So Dawid 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 Dawid.

51 Therefore Dawid 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.

52 And the men of Yisrael and of Judah (Yehudah) arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until you 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.

53 And the children of Yisrael returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

54 And Dawid took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim); but he put his armour in his tent.

55 And when Saul saw Dawid go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul liveth, O king, I do not know.”

56 And the king said, “Enquire you whose son the stripling is.”

57 And as Dawid returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, you young man?” And Dawid answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse (Yishai) the Bethlehemite.”

18

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

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan (Yehonatan) and Dawid made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to Dawid, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5 And Dawid 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.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when Dawid was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Yisrael, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said: “Saul hath slain his thousands, and Dawid his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed unto Dawid ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands; and what can he has more but the kingdom?”

9 And Saul eyed Dawid from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the next day, that the evil spirit from God (Elohim) came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house; and Dawid played with his hand, as at other times; and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, “I will smite Dawid even to the wall with it.” And Dawid avoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of Dawid, because יהוה was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And Dawid behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and יהוה was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Yisrael and Judah (Yehudah) loved Dawid, because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to Dawid, “Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give you to wife; only be you valiant for me, and fight יהוה’s battles.” For Saul said, “Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.”

18 And Dawid said unto Saul, “Who am I? And what is my life, or my father’s family in Yisrael, that I should be son in law to the king?”

19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to Dawid, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved Dawid; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 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 Dawid, “You shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.”

22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, “Commune with Dawid secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king hath delight in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore be the king’s son in law.’”

23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of Dawid. And Dawid 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?”

24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, “On this manner spake Dawid.”

25 And Saul said, “Thus shall you say to Dawid: ‘The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ But Saul thought to make Dawid fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 And when his servants told Dawid these words, it pleased Dawid well to be the king’s son in law; and the days were not expired.

27 Wherefore Dawid arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and Dawid 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.

28 And Saul saw and knew that יהוה was with Dawid, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of Dawid; and Saul became Dawid’s enemy continually.

30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth; and it came to pass, after they went forth, that Dawid behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was highly esteemed.

19

1 And Saul spake to Jonathan (Yehonatan) his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill Dawid.

2 But Jonathan (Yehonatan) Saul’s son delighted much in Dawid; and Jonathan (Yehonatan) told Dawid, saying, “Saul my father seeketh to kill you; now therefore, please take heed to yourself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide yourself.

3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will commune with my father of you; and what I see, that I will tell you.”

4 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) spake good of Dawid unto Saul his father, and said unto him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against Dawid; because he hath not sinned against you, and because his works have been to you-ward very good.

5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and יהוה wrought a great salvation for all Yisrael. You sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore then wilt you sin against innocent blood, to slay Dawid without a cause?”

6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan (Yehonatan); and Saul sware, “As יהוה liveth, he shall not be slain.”

7 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) called Dawid, and Jonathan (Yehonatan) shewed him all those things. And Jonathan (Yehonatan) brought Dawid to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

8 And there was war again; and Dawid went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.

9 And the evil spirit from יהוה was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand; and Dawid played with his hand.

10 And Saul sought to smite Dawid 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 Dawid fled, and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers unto Dawid’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning; and Michal Dawid’s wife told him, saying, “If you save not your life tonight, tomorrow you shalt be slain.”

12 So Michal let Dawid down through a window; and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13 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.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take Dawid, she said, “He is sick.”

15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see Dawid, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.”

16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.

17 And Saul said unto Michal, “Why have you 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 you?’”

18 So Dawid fled, and escaped, and came to Shemuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Shemuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, saying, “Behold, Dawid is at Naioth in Ramah!”

20 And Saul sent messengers to take Dawid: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Shemuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God (Elohim) was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21 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.

22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu; and he asked and said, “Where are Shemuel and Dawid?” And one said, “Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.”

23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God (Elohim) was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Shemuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

20

1 And Dawid fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan (Yehonatan), “What have I done? What is mine iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeketh my life?”

2 And he said unto him, “God (Elohim) forbid; you 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.”

3 And Dawid sware moreover, and said, “Your father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in your eyes; and he saith, ‘Let not Jonathan (Yehonatan) know this, lest he be grieved;’ but truly as יהוה liveth, and as your soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.”

4 Then said Jonathan (Yehonatan) unto Dawid, “Whatsoever your soul desireth, I will even do it for you.”

5 And Dawid said unto Jonathan (Yehonatan), “Behold, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

6 If your father at all miss me, then say, ‘Dawid earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem) his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’

7 If he says thus: ‘It is well,’ your servant shall have peace; but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

8 Therefore you shalt deal kindly with your servant; for you have brought your servant into a covenant of יהוה with you; notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me yourself; for why shouldest you bring me to your father?”

9 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) said, “Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then would not I tell it you?”

10 Then said Dawid to Jonathan (Yehonatan), “Who shall tell me? Or what if your father answers you roughly?”

11 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) said unto Dawid, “Come, and let us go out into the field.” And they went out both of them into the field.

12 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) said unto Dawid: “O יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward Dawid, and I then send not unto you, and shew it you;

13 יהוה do so and much more to Jonathan (Yehonatan): but if it please my father to do you evil, then I will shew it you, and send you away, that you mayest go in peace; and יהוה be with you, as He hath been with my father.

14 And you shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of יהוה, that I die not;

15 But also you shalt not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when יהוה hath cut off the enemies of Dawid every one from the face of the earth.”

16 So Jonathan (Yehonatan) made a covenant with the house of Dawid, saying, “Let יהוה even require it at the hand of Dawid’s enemies.”

17 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) caused Dawid to swear again, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan (Yehonatan) said to Dawid, “Tomorrow is the new moon: and you shalt be missed, because your seat will be empty.

19 And when you have stayed three days, then you shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where you didst hide yourself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.

20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

21 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 you, take them; then come you;’ for there is peace to you, and no hurt; as יהוה liveth.

22 But if I say thus unto the young man, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you;’ go your way; for יהוה hath sent you away.

23 And as touching the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, יהוה be between you and me forever.”

24 So Dawid hid himself in the field: and when the New Moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall; and Jonathan (Yehonatan) arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and Dawid’s place was empty.

26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day; for he thought, “Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.”

27 And it came to pass on the next day, which was the second day of the month, that Dawid’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan (Yehonatan) his son, “Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse (Yishai) to meat, neither yesterday, nor today?”

28 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) answered Saul, “Dawid earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem).

29 And he said, ‘Please let me go; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there; and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away, and see my brethren.’ Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.”

30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan (Yehonatan), and he said unto him, “You son of the perverse rebellious woman! Do not I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse (Yishai) to your own shame, and unto the shame of your mother’s nakedness?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse (Yishai) liveth upon the ground, you shalt not be established, nor your kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.”

32 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) answered Saul his father, and said unto him, “Why shall he be slain? What hath he done?”

33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him; whereby Jonathan (Yehonatan) knew that it was determined of his father to slay Dawid.

34 So Jonathan (Yehonatan) arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month; for he was grieved for Dawid, because his father had done him shame.

35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan (Yehonatan) went out into the field at the time appointed with Dawid, and a little lad with him.

36 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.

37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan (Yehonatan) had shot, Jonathan (Yehonatan) cried after the lad, and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”

38 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) cried after the lad, “Make speed, haste, stay not.” And Jonathan (Yehonatan)’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

39 But the lad knew not anything; only Jonathan (Yehonatan) and Dawid knew the matter.

40 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, “Go, carry them to the city.”

41 And as soon as the lad was gone, Dawid 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, but Dawid more so.

42 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) said to Dawid, “Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of יהוה, saying, ‘יהוה be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed forever.’” And he arose and departed; and Jonathan (Yehonatan) went into the city.

21

1 Then came Dawid to Nob to Ahimelech the priest (kohen); and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of Dawid, and said unto him, “Why are you alone, and no man with you?”

2 And Dawid said unto Ahimelech the priest (kohen), “The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, ‘Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send you, and what I have commanded you.’ And I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

3 Now therefore what is under your hand? Give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.”

4 And the priest (kohen) answered Dawid, 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.”

5 And Dawid answered the priest (kohen), 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 was sanctified this day in the vessel.”

6 So the priest (kohen) gave him hallowed bread; for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before יהוה, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before יהוה; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

8 And Dawid said unto Ahimelech, “And is there not here under your hand spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”

9 And the priest (kohen) said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you wilt take that, take it; for there is no other save that here.” And Dawid said, “There is none like that; give it me.”

10 And Dawid arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, “Is not this Dawid the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying: ‘Saul hath slain his thousands, and Dawid his ten thousands’?”

12 And Dawid laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 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.

14 Then said Achish unto his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad; wherefore then have you brought him to me?

15 Have I need of mad men, that you have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

22

1 Dawid 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.

2 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.

3 And Dawid went thence to Mizpeh of Moav; and he said unto the king of Moav, “Please let my father and my mother come forth, and be with you, till I know what God (Elohim) will do for me.”

4 And he brought them before the king of Moav; and they dwelt with him all the while that Dawid was in the hold.

5 And the prophet Gad said unto Dawid, “Abide not in the hold; depart, and get you into the land of Judah (Yehudah).” Then Dawid departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

6 When Saul heard that Dawid 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;)

7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjamites (Ben-yemini)! Will the son of Jesse (Yishai) give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

8 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 (Yishai), 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?”

9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse (Yishai) coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

10 And he enquired of יהוה for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest (kohen), the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests (kohanim) that were in Nob; and they came all of them to the king.

12 And Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub!” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord (adoni).”

13 And Saul said unto him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse (Yishai), in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God (Elohim) for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?”

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “And who is so faithful among all your servants as Dawid, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at your bidding, and is honourable in your house?

15 Did I then begin to enquire of God (Elohim) for him? Be it far from me; let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.”

16 And the king said, “You shalt surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house.”

17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, “Turn, and slay the priests (kohanim) of יהוה; because their hand also is with Dawid, 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 (kohanim) of יהוה.

18 And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you, and fall upon the priests (kohanim).” And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests (kohanim), and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

19 And Nob, the city of the priests (kohanim), 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.

20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Aviyahthar, escaped, and fled after Dawid.

21 And Aviyahthar shewed Dawid that Saul had slain יהוה’s priests (kohanim).

22 And Dawid said unto Aviyahthar, “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 your father’s house.

23 Abide you with me; fear not, for he that seeketh my life seeketh your life; but with me you shalt be in safeguard.”

23

1 Then they told Dawid, saying, “Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.”

2 Therefore Dawid enquired of יהוה, saying, “Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And יהוה said unto Dawid, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

3 And Dawid’s men said unto him, “Behold, we be afraid here in Judah (Yehudah); how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

4 Then Dawid enquired of יהוה yet again. And יהוה answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

5 So Dawid and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So Dawid saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 And it came to pass, when Aviyahthar the son of Ahimelech fled to Dawid to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7 And it was told Saul that Dawid was come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God (Elohim) hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.”

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege Dawid and his men.

9 And Dawid knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Aviyahthar the priest (kohen), “Bring hither the ephod.”

10 Then said Dawid, “O יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), your servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant hath heard? O יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), I beseech you, tell Your servant.” And יהוה said, “He will come down.”

12 Then said Dawid, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And יהוה said, “They will deliver you up.”

13 Then Dawid 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 Dawid was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

14 And Dawid 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 (Elohim) delivered him not into his hand.

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

16 And Jonathan (Yehonatan) Saul’s son arose, and went to Dawid into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God (Elohim).

17 And he said unto him, “Fear not, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shalt be king over Yisrael, and I shall be next unto you; and that also Saul my father knoweth.”

18 And they two made a covenant before יהוה; and Dawid abode in the wood, and Jonathan (Yehonatan) went to his house.

19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doth not Dawid hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Yeshimon?

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”

21 And Saul said, “Blessed be you of יהוה, for you have compassion on me.

22 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.

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come you 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 (Yehudah).”

24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but Dawid and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Yeshimon.

25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told Dawid; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after Dawid in the wilderness of Maon.

26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and Dawid and his men on that side of the mountain; and Dawid made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed Dawid and his men round about to take them.

27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, “Haste you, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land!”

28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after Dawid, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that place ‘the Rock of Escapes’ (Sela Hammachleqot).

29 And Dawid went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

24

1 And it came to pass, when Saul returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Behold, Dawid is in the wilderness of Engedi.”

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Yisrael, and went to seek Dawid and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and Dawid and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of Dawid said unto him, “Behold the day of which יהוה said unto you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto you.’” Then Dawid arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that Dawid’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, “יהוה forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, יהוה’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of יהוה.”

7 So Dawid 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.

8 Dawid also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord (Adoni) the king.” And when Saul looked behind him, Dawid stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

9 And Dawid said to Saul: “Why hearest you men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, Dawid seeketh your hurt’?

10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that יהוה had delivered you today into mine hand in the cave; and some bade me kill you: but mine eye spared you; and I said, ‘I will not put forth mine hand against my lord (adoni); for he is יהוה’s anointed (mashiach).’

11 Moreover, my father, see! Yea, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and killed you not, know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you huntest my soul to take it.

12 יהוה judge between me and you, and יהוה avenge me of you; but mine hand shall not be upon you.

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but mine hand shall not be upon you.

14 After whom is the king of Yisrael come out? After whom dost you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.

15 יהוה therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.

16 And it came to pass, when Dawid had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son Dawid?” And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to Dawid, “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil.

18 And you have shewed this day how that you have dealt well with me; forasmuch as when יהוה had delivered me into your hand, you killedst me not.

19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go well away? Therefore may יהוה reward you good for that you have done unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well that you shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Yisrael shall be established in your hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by יהוה, that you wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that you wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”

22 And Dawid sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but Dawid and his men gat them up unto the stronghold.

25

1 And Shemuel died; and all the Yisraelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And Dawid arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2 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.

3 Now the name of the man was Naval; and the name of his wife Avigail; 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.

4 And Dawid heard in the wilderness that Naval did shear his sheep.

5 And Dawid sent out ten young men, and Dawid said unto the young men, “Get you up to Carmel, and go to Naval, and greet him in my name.

6 And thus shall you say to him that liveth in prosperity, ‘Peace be both to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be unto all that you have!

7 And now I have heard that you have shearers; now your shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there anything missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

8 Ask your young men, and they will shew you. Wherefore let the young men find favor in your eyes; for we come in a good day: Please give whatsoever cometh to your hand unto your servants, and to your son Dawid.’”

9 And when Dawid’s young men came, they spake to Naval according to all those words in the name of Dawid, and ceased.

10 And Naval answered Dawid’s servants, and said, “Who is Dawid? And who is the son of Jesse (Yishai)? There be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11 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?”

12 So Dawid’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And Dawid said unto his men, “Gird you on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and Dawid also girded on his sword; and there went up after Dawid about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14 But one of the young men told Avigail, Naval’s wife, saying, “Behold, Dawid sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15 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.

16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what you wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household; for he is such a scoundrel (beliyaal) son, that a man cannot speak to him.”

18 Then Avigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

19 And she said unto her servants, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she told not her husband Naval.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, Dawid and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21 Now Dawid 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.

22 So and more also do God (Elohim) unto the enemies of Dawid, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.”

23 And when Avigail saw Dawid, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before Dawid on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

24 And fell at his feet, and said: “Upon me, my lord (adoni), upon me let this iniquity be; and please let your handmaid speak in your audience, and hear the words of your handmaid.

25 Please let not my lord (adoni) regard this scoundrel (beliyaal) man, Naval, for as his name is, so is he; Naval is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your handmaid saw not the young men of my lord (adoni), whom you didst send.

26 Now therefore, my lord (adoni), as יהוה liveth, and as your soul liveth, seeing יהוה hath withholden you from coming to shed blood, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord (adoni), be as Naval.

27 And now this blessing which your handmaid hath brought unto my lord (adoni), let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord (adoni).

28 Please forgive the trespass of your handmaid; for יהוה will certainly make my lord (adoni) a sure house; because my lord (adoni) fighteth the battles of יהוה, and evil hath not been found in you all your days.

29 Yet a man is risen to pursue you, and to seek your soul; but the soul of my lord (adoni) shall be bound in the bundle of life with יהוה your God (Elohim); and the souls of your enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

30 And it shall come to pass, when יהוה shall have done to my lord (adoni) according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning you, and shall have appointed you ruler over Yisrael;

31 That this shall be no grief unto you, nor offence of heart unto my lord (adoni), either that you have shed blood causeless, or that my lord (adoni) hath avenged himself; but when יהוה shall have dealt well with my lord (adoni), then remember your handmaid.”

32 And Dawid said to Avigail: “Blessed be יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), which sent you this day to meet me!

33 And blessed be your advice, and blessed be you, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34 For in very deed, as יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting you, except you hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Naval by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.”

35 So Dawid received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, “Go up in peace to your house; see, I have hearkened to your voice, and have accepted your person.”

36 And Avigail came to Naval; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Naval’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

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

38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that יהוה smote Naval, that he died.

39 And when Dawid heard that Naval was dead, he said, “Blessed be יהוה, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Naval, and hath kept His servant from evil; for יהוה hath returned the wickedness of Naval upon his own head.” And Dawid sent and communed with Avigail, to take her to him to wife.

40 And when the servants of Dawid were come to Avigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, “Dawid sent us unto you, to take you to him to wife.”

41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, “Behold, let your handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord (adoni).”

42 And Avigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of Dawid, and became his wife.

43 Dawid also took Ahinoam of Yizreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, Dawid’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

26

1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doth not Dawid hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Yeshimon?”

2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Yisrael with him, to seek Dawid in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Yeshimon, by the way. But Dawid abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 Dawid therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

5 And Dawid arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and Dawid beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

6 Then answered Dawid and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Avishai the son of Zeruyah, brother to Yoav, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?” And Avishai said, “I will go down with you.”

7 So Dawid and Avishai 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.

8 Then said Avishai to Dawid, “God (Elohim) hath delivered your enemy into your hand this day; now therefore let me smite him, please, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time!”

9 And Dawid said to Avishai, “Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against יהוה’s anointed, and be guiltless?”

10 Dawid said furthermore, “As יהוה liveth, יהוה shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11 יהוה forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against יהוה’s anointed; but please, take you now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.”

12 So Dawid 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 יהוה was fallen upon them.

13 Then Dawid went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space being between them:

14 And Dawid cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Answerest you not, Abner?” Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you that criest to the king?”

15 And Dawid said to Abner, “Art not you a valiant man? And who is like to you in Yisrael? Wherefore then have you not kept your lord (adon) the king? For there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord (adon).

16 This thing is not good that you have done. As יהוה liveth, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, יהוה’s anointed (mashiach). And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.”

17 And Saul knew Dawid’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son Dawid?” And Dawid said, “It is my voice, my lord (adoni), O king.”

18 And he said, “Why doth my lord (adoni) thus pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in mine hand?

19 Now therefore, please let my lord (adoni) the king hears the words of his servant: If יהוה have stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering; but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before יהוה; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of יהוה, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods (elohim).’

20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of יהוה; for the king of Yisrael is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

21 Then said Saul, “I have sinned. Return, my son Dawid; for I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”

22 And Dawid answered and said, “Behold the king’s spear! And let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23 May יהוה render to every man His righteousness and His faithfulness; for יהוה delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against יהוה’s anointed (mashiach).

24 And, behold, as your life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of יהוה, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”

25 Then Saul said to Dawid, “Blessed be you, my son Dawid! You shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So Dawid went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

27

1 And Dawid 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 Yisrael; so shall I escape out of his hand.”

2 And Dawid arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 And Dawid dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even Dawid with his two wives, Ahinoam the Yizreelitess, and Avigail the Carmelitess, Naval’s wife.

4 And it was told Saul that Dawid was fled to Gath; and he sought no more again for him.

5 And Dawid said unto Achish, “If I have now found grace in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there; for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?”

6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day; wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah (Yehudah) unto this day.

7 And the time that Dawid dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

8 And Dawid 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 you goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim).

9 And Dawid 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.

10 And Achish said, “Whither have you made a road today?” And Dawid said, “Against the south of Judah (Yehudah), and against the south of the Yerachmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.”

11 And Dawid saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, “Lest they should tell on us, saying, ‘So did Dawid.’” And so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

12 And Achish believed Dawid, saying, “He hath made his people Yisrael utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant forever.”

28

1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Yisrael. And Achish said unto Dawid, “Know you assuredly, that you shalt go out with me to battle, you and your men.”

2 And Dawid said to Achish, “Surely you shalt know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to Dawid, “Therefore will I make you keeper of mine head forever.”

3 Now Shemuel was dead, and all Yisrael 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.

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Yisrael together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

5 And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6 And when Saul enquired of יהוה, יהוה answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, “Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En Dor.”

8 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, “Please, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring him up for me, whom I shall name unto you.”

9 And the woman said unto him, “Behold, you 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 you a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”

10 And Saul sware to her by יהוה, saying, “As יהוה liveth, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.”

11 Then said the woman, “Whom shall I bring up unto you?” And he said, “Bring up Shemuel for me.”

12 And when the woman saw Shemuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

13 And the king said unto her, “Be not afraid; for what sawest you?” And the woman said unto Saul, “I saw divine being (elohim) ascending out of the earth.”

14 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 Shemuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

15 And Shemuel said to Saul, “Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up?” And Saul answered, “I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God (Elohim) is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you mayest make known unto me what I shall do.”

16 Then said Shemuel, “Why then dost you ask of me, seeing יהוה is departed from you, and is become your enemy?

17 And יהוה hath done to him, as he spake by me; for יהוה hath rent the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbour, even to Dawid;

18 Because you obeyedst not the voice of יהוה, nor executedst His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath יהוה done this thing unto you this day.

19 Moreover יהוה will also deliver Yisrael with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow shalt you and your sons be with me; יהוה also shall deliver the army of Yisrael into the hand of the Philistines.”

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Shemuel; and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no food all the day, nor all the night.

21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, “Behold, your handmaid hath obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto your words which you spakest unto me.

22 Now therefore, please hearken you also unto the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you mayest have strength, when you goest on your way.”

23 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.

24 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 unleaven bread (matstsah) thereof.

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

29

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Yisraelites pitched by a fountain which is in Yizreel.

2 And the lords (seranim) of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; but Dawid and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, “What do these Hebrews (Ivrim) here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, “Is not this Dawid, the servant of Saul the king of Yisrael, who 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?”

4 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 you have 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?

5 Is not this Dawid, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying: ‘Saul slew his thousands, and Dawid his multitude’?”

6 Then Achish called Dawid, and said unto him, “Surely, as יהוה liveth, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming unto me unto this day; nevertheless the lords favor you not.

7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that you displease not the lords (seranim) of the Philistines.”

8 And Dawid said unto Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant so long as I have been with you unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord (adoni) the king?”

9 And Achish answered and said to Dawid, “I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God (Elohim); notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.

10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with your master’s servants that are come with you; and as soon as you be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

11 So Dawid 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 Yizreel.

30

1 And it came to pass, when Dawid 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;

2 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.

3 So Dawid 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.

4 Then Dawid and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

5 And Dawid’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Yizreelitess, and Avigail the wife of Naval the Carmelite.

6 And Dawid 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 Dawid encouraged himself in יהוה his God (Elohim).

7 And Dawid said to Aviyahthar the priest (kohen), “Ahimelech’s son, please bring me hither the ephod.” And Aviyahthar brought thither the ephod to Dawid.

8 And Dawid enquired at יהוה, saying, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And he answered him, “Pursue, for you shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

9 So Dawid went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.

10 But Dawid pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the Brook Besor.

11 And they found an Egyptian (Mitsri) in the field, and brought him to Dawid, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;

12 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.

13 And Dawid said unto him, “To whom belongest you? And whence are you?” And he said, “I am a young man of Egypt (Mitsrayim), servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

14 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah (Yehudah), and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

15 And Dawid said to him, “Canst you bring me down to this company?” And he said, “Swear unto me by God (Elohim), that you wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this company.”

16 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 (Yehudah).

17 And Dawid 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.

18 And Dawid recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away; and Dawid rescued his two wives.

19 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: Dawid recovered all.

20 And Dawid took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, “This is Dawid’s spoil.”

21 And Dawid came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow Dawid, whom they had made also to abide at the Brook Besor; and they went forth to meet Dawid, and to meet the people that were with him; and when Dawid came near to the people, he saluted them.

22 Then answered all the wicked men and scoundrel (beliyaal) men, of those that went with Dawid, 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.”

23 Then said Dawid, “You shall not do so, my brethren, with that which יהוה hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

24 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.”

25 And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Yisrael unto this day.

26 And when Dawid came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah (Yehudah), even to his friends, saying, “Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of יהוה;”

27 To them who were in Bethel (Beit-El), and to them who were in south Ramot, and to them who were in Yattir,

28 And to them who were in Aroer, and to them who were in Siphmoth, and to them who were in Eshtemoa,

29 And to them who were in Rachal, and to them who were in the cities of the Yerachmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,

30 And to them who were in Hormah, and to them who were in Chorashan, and to them who were in Athach,

31 And to them who were in Hebron, and to all the places where Dawid himself and his men had frequently visited.

31

1 Now the Philistines fought against Yisrael; and the men of Yisrael fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in Mount Gilboa.

2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan (Yehonatan), and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.

3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, “Draw your 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.

5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

7 And when the men of Yisrael that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan (Yarden), saw that the men of Yisrael fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 And it came to pass on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in Mount Gilboa.

9 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.

10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beit-Shan.

11 And when the inhabitants of Yavesh-Gilad heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

12 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 Beit-Shan, and came to Yavesh, and burnt them there.

13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Yavesh, and fasted seven days.