King James

« 1 Samuel 1 »
King James Bible
Elkanah and his Wives
(1 Kings 22:51-53; 2 Kings 1:1-16; Psalm 113:1-9)
1Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name [was]
Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2And 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.
3And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in
Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, [were] there. 4And
when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her
daughters, portions: 5But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the
LORD had shut up her womb. 6And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret,
because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to
the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8Then said
Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy
heart grieved? [am] not I better to thee than ten sons?
Hannah Prays for a Son
9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat
upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed
unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt
indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid,
but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of
his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.
12And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard:
therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be
drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I [am] a
woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my
soul before the LORD. 16Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the
abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17Then Eli answered and said, Go in
peace: and the God of Israel grant [thee] thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 18And she said,
Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her
countenance was no more [sad].
The Birth of Samuel
19And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came
to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she
bare a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and
his vow. 22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, [I will not go up] until the child
be weaned, and [then] I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for
ever. 23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have
weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until
she weaned him. 24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks,
and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in
Shiloh: and the child [was] young. 25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26And
she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood by thee here,
praying unto the LORD. 27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I
asked of him: 28Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to
the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
« »
King James Bible
Hannah's Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Luke 1:46-56)
1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD:
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2[There is] none holy as the LORD: for [there is] none beside thee: neither [is there] any rock like
our God.
3Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is]
a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4The 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 is waxed feeble.
6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them]
among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the
LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall
no man prevail.
10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon
them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and
exalt the horn of his anointed.
11And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the
priest.
The Sins of Eli's Sons
12Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 13And the priests' custom
with the people [was, that], when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the
flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14And he struck [it] into the pan,
or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they
did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's
servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not
have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16And [if] any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the
fat presently, and [then] take [as much] as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, [Nay];
but thou shalt give [it me] now: and if not, I will take [it] by force. 17Wherefore the sin of the
young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18But Samuel ministered before the LORD, [being] a child, girded with a linen ephod. 19Moreover
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. 20And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The
LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto
their own home.
21And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters.
And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
Eli Reproves his Sons
22Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the
women that assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23And he said unto
them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24Nay, my sons;
for [it is] no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 25If one man sin
against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for
him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would
slay them.
26And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
A Prophecy against Eli's House
27And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly
appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28And did I
choose him out of all the tribes of Israel [to be] my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn
incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings
made by fire of the children of Israel? 29Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,
which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make
yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30Wherefore the LORD God
of Israel saith, I said indeed [that] thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me
for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and
they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine
arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 32And
thou shalt see an enemy [in my] habitation, in all [the wealth] which [God] shall give Israel: and
there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 33And the man of thine, [whom] I shall not
cut off from mine altar, [shall be] to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the
increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. 34And this [shall be] a sign unto thee,
that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of
them. 35And I will raise me up a faithful priest, [that] shall do according to [that] which [is] in mine
heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed
for ever. 36And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left in thine house shall come [and]
crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into
one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
« 1 Samuel 3 »
King James Bible
The Lord Calls Samuel
1And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious
in those days; [there was] no open vision.
2And 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; 3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where
the ark of God [was], and Samuel was laid down [to sleep]; 4That the LORD called Samuel: and he
answered, Here [am] I. 5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou calledst me. And he
said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6And the LORD called yet again,
Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And he
answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither
was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8And the LORD called Samuel again the third
time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here [am] I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived
that the LORD had called the child. 9Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if
he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay
down in his place.
God's Judgment against Eli
10And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel
answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. 11And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a
thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12In 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. 13For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he
knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 14And therefore I
have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice
nor offering for ever.
Samuel Shares his Vision
15And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel
feared to shew Eli the vision. 16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he
answered, Here [am] I. 17And he said, What [is] the thing that [the LORD] hath said unto thee? I
pray thee hide [it] not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide [any] thing from
me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing
from him. And he said, It [is] the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet
of the LORD. 21And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel
in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.
« 1 Samuel 4 »
King James Bible
The Philistines Capture the Ark
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle,
and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2And the Philistines put
themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the
Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. 3And when the people
were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day
before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that,
when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4So the people sent to
Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which
dwelleth [between] the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, [were] there
with the ark of the covenant of God.
5And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great
shout, so that the earth rang again. 6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they
said, What [meaneth] the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they
understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. 7And the Philistines were afraid, for
they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a
thing heretofore. 8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these
[are] the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9Be strong, and quit
yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been
to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and
there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11And the ark of
God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
The Death of Eli
12And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his
clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. 13And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the
wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city,
and told [it], all the city cried out. 14And 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. 15Now Eli was ninety
and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. 16And the man said unto Eli, I
[am] he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there
done, my son? 17And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and
there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and
Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18And it came to pass, when he made mention of
the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake,
and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, [near] to be delivered: and when she
heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were
dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. 20And about the time of her
death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she
answered not, neither did she regard [it]. 21And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is
departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her
husband. 22And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
« 1 Samuel 5 »
King James Bible
The Ark among the Philistines
1And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 2When the
Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3And
when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the
earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4And when
they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the ground
before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [were] cut off
upon the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him. 5Therefore neither the priests of
Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this
day.
6But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote
them with emerods, [even] Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 7And when the men of Ashdod saw
that [it was] so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore
upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 8They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the
Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they
answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of
the God of Israel about [thither]. 9And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about, the hand of
the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city,
both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts. 10Therefore they sent the ark of
God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out,
saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. 11So
they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the
God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was
a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 12And the men
that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
« 1 Samuel 6 »
King James Bible
The Ark Returned to Israel
1And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2And the Philistines
called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us
wherewith we shall send it to his place. 3And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of
Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed,
and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. 4Then said they, What [shall
be] the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and
five golden mice, [according to] the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague [was] on
you all, and on your lords. 5Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your
mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten
his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. 6Wherefore then do ye
harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought
wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? 7Now 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: 8And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the
cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him [for] a trespass offering, in a coffer by the
side thereof; and send it away, that it may go. 9And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast
to Bethshemesh, [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.
10And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves
at home: 11And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold
and the images of their emerods. 12And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh,
[and] went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside [to] the right hand or
[to] the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.
13And [they of] Bethshemesh [were] reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up
their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see [it]. 14And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a
Bethshemite, and stood there, where [there was] a great stone: and they clave the wood of the
cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. 15And the Levites took down the ark of
the LORD, and the coffer that [was] with it, wherein the jewels of gold [were], and put [them] on
the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the
same day unto the LORD. 16And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen [it], they returned
to Ekron the same day.
17And these [are] the golden emerods which the Philistines returned [for] a trespass offering unto
the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; 18And the
golden mice, [according to] the number of all the cities of the Philistines [belonging] to the five
lords, [both] of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great [stone of] Abel, whereon
they set down the ark of the LORD: [which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of Joshua,
the Bethshemite.
19And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even
he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented,
because the LORD had smitten [many] of the people with a great slaughter. 20And the men of
Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up
from us? 21And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines
have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, [and] fetch it up to you.
« 1 Samuel 7 »
King James Bible
Samuel Subdues the Philistines
1And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the
house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2And it
came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years:
and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your
hearts, [then] put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts
unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. 6And they
gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on
that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of
Israel in Mizpeh.
7And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the
lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard [it], they were
afraid of the Philistines. 8And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD
our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 9And Samuel took a sucking
lamb, and offered [it for] a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD
for Israel; and the LORD heard him. 10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the
Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that
day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11And the
men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until [they came]
under Bethcar.
12Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it
Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they
came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the
days of Samuel. 14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel,
from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the
Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Samuel Judges Israel
15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16And he went from year to year in circuit to
Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17And his return [was] to
Ramah; for there [was] his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the
LORD.
« 1 Samuel 8 »
King James Bible
Israel Demands a King
1And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2Now the
name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in
Beersheba. 3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and
perverted judgment.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king
to judge us like all the nations. 6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to
judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the
voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have
rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8According to all the works which they have done
since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have
forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9Now therefore hearken unto their
voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall
reign over them.
Samuel's Warning About Kings
10And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 11And 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. 12And 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. 13And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be]
cooks, and [to be] bakers. 14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards,
[even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants. 15And he will take the tenth of your
seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16And he will take your
menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put
[them] to his work. 17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18And ye
shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will
not hear you in that day.
God Grants the Request
19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will
have a king over us; 20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us,
and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and
he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. 22And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their
voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his
city.
« 1 Samuel 9 »
King James Bible
Saul Chosen as King
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the
son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2And he had a son,
whose name [was] Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the
children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than
any of the people.
3And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the
servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. 4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and
passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land
of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they
found [them] not.
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. 6And
he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man;
all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our
way that we should go. 7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring
the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of
God: what have we? 8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand
the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to
the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) 10Then said Saul to
his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God [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? 12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is]
before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for [there is] a sacrifice of the people
to day in the high place: 13As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him,
before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth
bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about
this time ye shall find him. 14And they went up into the city: [and] when they were come into the
city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16To morrow about
this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him [to be]
captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I
have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17And when Samuel saw Saul,
the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my
people. 18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the
seer's house [is]. 19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I [am] the seer: go up before me unto
the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee
all that [is] in thine heart. 20And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind
on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on
all thy father's house? 21And Saul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of
the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore
then speakest thou so to me?
22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in
the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons. 23And Samuel
said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And
[Samuel] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat: for unto this time hath it
been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul
upon the top of the house. 26And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the
day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And
Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27[And] as they were going
down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed
on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
« 1 Samuel 10 »
King James Bible
Samuel Anoints Saul
1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not
because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance? 2When thou art
departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of
Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found:
and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do
for my son? 3Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of
Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and
another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4And they will salute
thee, and give thee two [loaves] of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. 5After that thou
shalt come to the hill of God, where [is] the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass,
when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down
from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they
shall prophesy: 6And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with
them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee,
[that] thou do as occasion serve thee; for God [is] with thee. 8And thou shalt go down before me
to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, [and] to sacrifice
sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what
thou shalt do.
Samuel's Signs Fulfilled
9And it was [so], that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another
heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. 10And when they came thither to the hill, behold,
a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among
them. 11And 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? 12And one of the same place answered and said,
But who [is] their father? Therefore it became a proverb, [Is] Saul also among the prophets? 13And
when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
14And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the
asses: and when we saw that [they were] no where, we came to Samuel. 15And Saul's uncle said,
Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly
that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him
not.
Saul Proclaimed King
17And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; 18And said unto the children of
Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out
of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed
you: 19And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities
and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now therefore
present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
20And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was
taken. 21When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of
Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be
found. 22Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the
LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23And 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. 24And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath
chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said,
God save the king.
25Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote [it] in a book, and laid [it] up
before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26And Saul also
went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought
him no presents. But he held his peace.
« 1 Samuel 11 »
King James Bible
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
1Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of
Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2And Nahash the
Ammonite answered them, On this [condition] will I make [a covenant] with you, that I may thrust
out all your right eyes, and lay it [for] a reproach upon all Israel. 3And the elders of Jabesh said
unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel:
and then, if [there be] no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4Then 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.
5And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What [aileth] the people that
they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6And the Spirit of God came upon
Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7And he took a yoke of oxen,
and hewed them in pieces, and sent [them] throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of
messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done
unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
8And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and
the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye
say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time] the sun be hot, ye shall have help.
And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10Therefore
the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that
seemeth good unto you. 11And it was [so] on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three
companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the
Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were
scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
Saul Confirmed as King
12And the people said unto Samuel, Who [is] he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men,
that we may put them to death. 13And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day:
for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
14Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
15And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and
there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men
of Israel rejoiced greatly.
« 1 Samuel 12 »
King James Bible
Samuel's Farewell Address
1And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto
me, and have made a king over you. 2And 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. 3Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the LORD, and before his
anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom
have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and
I will restore it you. 4And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast
thou taken ought of any man's hand. 5And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness against you,
and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they
answered, [He is] witness.
6And Samuel said unto the people, [It is] the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that
brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with
you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
8When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent
Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this
place. 9And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of
the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and
they fought against them. 10And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we
have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the
hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. 11And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and
Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye
dwelled safe.
12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto
me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king. 13Now
therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, [and] whom ye have desired! and, behold, the
LORD hath set a king over you. 14If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and
not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that
reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 15But if ye will not obey the voice of the
LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be
against you, as [it was] against your fathers. 16Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which
the LORD will do before your eyes. 17[Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD,
and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great,
which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18So Samuel called unto the
LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD
and Samuel.
19And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die
not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king. 20And Samuel said unto the
people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but
serve the LORD with all your heart; 21And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain
[things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain. 22For the LORD will not forsake his
people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but
I will teach you the good and the right way: 24Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all
your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you. 25But if ye shall still do wickedly,
ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
« 1 Samuel 13 »
King James Bible
War with the Philistines
1Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
2Saul chose him three thousand [men] of Israel; [whereof] two thousand were with Saul in
Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and
the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3And Jonathan smote the garrison of the
Philistines that [was] in Geba, and the Philistines heard [of it]. And Saul blew the trumpet
throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4And all Israel heard say [that] Saul had
smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and [that] Israel also was had in abomination with the
Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
5And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and
six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which [is] on the sea shore in multitude: and they
came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. 6When the men of Israel saw that
they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in
caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 7And [some of] the Hebrews
went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he [was] yet in Gilgal, and all the
people followed him trembling.
Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice
8And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel
came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt
offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
Samuel Rebukes Saul
10And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold,
Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11And Samuel said, What
hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and [that]
thou camest not within the days appointed, and [that] the Philistines gathered themselves together
at Michmash; 12Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have
not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the
LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom
upon Israel for ever. 14But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man
after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because
thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee.
15And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the
people [that were] present with him, about six hundred men.
Philistines Raid Israel
16And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people [that were] present with them, abode in Gibeah
of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17And 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: 18And another company turned the way [to] Bethhoron: and another
company turned [to] the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the
wilderness.
Israel without Weapons
19Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the
Hebrews make [them] swords or spears: 20But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to
sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 21Yet they had a file
for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the
goads. 22So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in
the hand of any of the people that [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan
his son was there found. 23And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of
Michmash.
« 1 Samuel 14 »
King James Bible
Jonathan's Plan
1Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare
his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that [is] on the other side. But he
told not his father. 2And 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; 3And
Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest
in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. 4And between the
passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, [there was] a sharp
rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one [was] Bozez,
and the name of the other Seneh. 5The forefront of the one [was] situate northward over against
Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.
6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the
garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint
to the LORD to save by many or by few. 7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that [is] in
thine heart: turn thee; behold, I [am] with thee according to thy heart. 8Then said Jonathan,
Behold, we will pass over unto [these] men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. 9If 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. 10But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath
delivered them into our hand: and this [shall be] a sign unto us. 11And both of them discovered
themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come
forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12And the men of the garrison answered
Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And
Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into
the hand of Israel. 13And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his
armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14And
that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as
it were an half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].
Israel Defeats the Philistines
15And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the
spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted
away, and they went on beating down [one another]. 17Then said Saul unto the people that [were]
with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold,
Jonathan and his armourbearer [were] not [there]. 18And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark
of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 19And it came to pass, while
Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that [was] in the host of the Philistines went on and
increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. 20And 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. 21Moreover the Hebrews
[that] were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp [from the
country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the Israelites that [were] with Saul and
Jonathan. 22Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, [when]
they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23So the
LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.
Jonathan Eats the Honey
24And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed
[be] the man that eateth [any] food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So
none of the people tasted [any] food. 25And all [they of] the land came to a wood; and there was
honey upon the ground. 26And 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. 27But Jonathan
heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the
rod that [was] in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his
eyes were enlightened. 28Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged
the people with an oath, saying, Cursed [be] the man that eateth [any] food this day. And the
people were faint. 29Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how
mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30How much more, if
haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had
there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
32And 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. 33Then they told Saul, saying, Behold,
the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have
transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. 34And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the
people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay
[them] here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people
brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew [them] there. 35And Saul built an altar
unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.
36And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning
light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee.
Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
The People Save Jonathan
37And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into
the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. 38And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the
chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 39For, [as] the LORD
liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But [there was]
not a man among all the people [that] answered him. 40Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one
side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what
seemeth good unto thee. 41Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect [lot].
And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. 42And Saul said, Cast [lots] between
me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did
but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that [was] in mine hand, [and], lo, I must die.
44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 45And the
people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God
forbid: [as] the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath
wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 46Then Saul went up
from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
Saul's Victories
47So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against
Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and
against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed [them]. 48And he gathered
an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled
them.
Saul's Family
49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, 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:
50And the name of Saul's wife [was] Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the
captain of his host [was] Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51And Kish [was] the father of Saul;
and Ner the father of Abner [was] the son of Abiel.
52And 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.
« 1 Samuel 15 »
King James Bible
Saul's Disobedience
(Leviticus 20:1-9; Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; 1 Kings 13:11-34)
1Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee [to be] king over his people, over
Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 2Thus saith the LORD
of hosts, I remember [that] which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way,
when he came up from Egypt. 3Now 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.
4And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand
footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the
valley. 6And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest
I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up
out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7And Saul smote the Amalekites
from Havilah [until] thou comest to Shur, that [is] over against Egypt. 8And he took Agag the king
of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9But 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.
Samuel Denounces Saul
10Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul
[to be] king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.
And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. 12And when Samuel rose early to
meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set
him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. 13And Samuel came
to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the
commandment of the LORD. 14And Samuel said, What [meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in
mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15And Saul said, They have brought them
from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto
the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay,
and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17And Samuel said, When thou [wast] little in thine own sight, [wast] thou not [made] the head of
the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 18And the LORD sent thee on a
journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until
they be consumed. 19Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon
the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
20And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way
which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed
the Amalekites. 21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which
should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying
the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of
rams.
23For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because
thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.
Saul's Confession
24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the
LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25Now therefore, I
pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 26And Samuel
said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the
LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27And as Samuel turned about to go away,
he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath
rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, [that is]
better than thou. 29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he [is] not a man,
that he should repent. 30Then he said, I have sinned: [yet] honour me now, I pray thee, before
the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD
thy God. 31So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
32Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto
him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. 33And Samuel said, As thy
sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel
hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
34Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35And Samuel
came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and
the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
« 1 Samuel 16 »
King James Bible
Samuel Anoints David as King
1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him
from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the
Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2And Samuel said, How can I go? if
Saul hear [it], he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to
sacrifice to the LORD. 3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and
thou shalt anoint unto me [him] whom I name unto thee. 4And Samuel did that which the LORD
spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said,
Comest thou peaceably? 5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify
yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called
them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S
anointed [is] before him. 7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the
height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8Then Jesse called
Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10Again,
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath
not chosen these. 11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all [thy] children? And he said, There
remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send
and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance,
and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he. 13Then Samuel took
the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came
upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
David Serves Saul
14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16Let our
lord now command thy servants, [which are] before thee, to seek out a man, [who is] a cunning
player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he
shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now
a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me. 18Then answered one of the servants, and said,
Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty
valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is]
with him. 19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which
[is] with the sheep. 20And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid,
and sent [them] by David his son unto Saul. 21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and
he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let
David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23And it came to pass,
when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand:
so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

« 1 Samuel 17 »
King James Bible
Goliath's Challenge
1Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at
Shochoh, which [belongeth] to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in
Ephesdammim. 2And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley
of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3And the Philistines stood on a mountain
on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and [there was] a valley
between them. 4And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath,
of Gath, whose height [was] six cubits and a span. 5And [he had] an helmet of brass upon his
head, and he [was] armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat [was] five thousand
shekels of brass. 6And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his
shoulders. 7And 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. 8And he stood and cried
unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set [your] battle in array?
[am] not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down
to me. 9If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail
against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10And the Philistine said, I
defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11When Saul and all
Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Jesse Sends David
12Now David [was] the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name [was] Jesse; and he
had eight sons: and the man went among men [for] an old man in the days of Saul. 13And the
three eldest sons of Jesse went [and] followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons
that went to the battle [were] Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third
Shammah. 14And David [was] the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. 15But David went
and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16And the Philistine drew near
morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
17And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched [corn],
and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18And carry these ten cheeses unto the
captain of [their] thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19Now Saul,
and they, and all the men of Israel, [were] in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
David Accepts the Challenge
20And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as
Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight,
and shouted for the battle. 21For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against
army. 22And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the
army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23And as he talked with them, behold, there came up
the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and
spake according to the same words: and David heard [them].
24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25And
the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up:
and it shall be, [that] the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will
give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
26And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth
this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine,
that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27And the people answered him after this
manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled
against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few
sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come
down that thou mightest see the battle. 29And David said, What have I now done? [Is there] not a
cause? 30And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the
people answered him again after the former manner.
David Slays Goliath
31And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed [them] before Saul: and he
sent for him. 32And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go
and fight with this Philistine. 33And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this
Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34And
David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and
took a lamb out of the flock: 35And 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. 36Thy 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. 37David said moreover, The LORD
that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out
of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. 38And Saul
armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him
with a coat of mail. 39And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he
had not proved [it]. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved
[them]. And David put them off him. 40And 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.
41And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield [went]
before him. 42And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was
[but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a
dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44And the
Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the
beasts of the field. 45Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with
a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and
I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the
Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth
may know that there is a God in Israel. 47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth
not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
48And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that
David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49And David put his hand in his bag,
and took thence a stone, and slang [it], and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone
sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and
slew him; but [there was] no sword in the hand of David. 51Therefore David ran, and stood upon
the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off
his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. 52And the
men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the
valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to
Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. 53And the children of Israel returned from chasing
after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. 54And David took the head of the Philistine, and
brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
Saul Notices David
55And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the
host, Abner, whose son [is] this youth? And Abner said, [As] thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
56And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling [is]. 57And as David returned from the
slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the
Philistine in his hand. 58And Saul said to him, Whose son [art] thou, [thou] young man? And David
answered, [I am] the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
« 1 Samuel 18 »
King James Bible
Jonathan Befriends David
1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan
was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that
day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a
covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that
[was] upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to
his girdle.
Saul Envies David
5And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him
over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of
Saul's servants.
6And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine,
that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with
tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.
8And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto
David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed [but] thousands: and [what] can he have more
but the kingdom? 9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he
prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and
[there was] a javelin in Saul's hand. 11And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even
to the wall [with it]. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went
out and came in before the people. 14And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the
LORD [was] with him. 15Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was
afraid of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before
them.
David Marries Michal
17And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou
valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let
the hand of the Philistines be upon him. 18And David said unto Saul, Who [am] I? and what [is] my
life, [or] my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king? 19But it came to pass
at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto
Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21And
Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines
may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in [the
one of] the twain. 22And Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with David secretly,
and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the
king's son in law. 23And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said,
Seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to be a king's son in law, seeing that I [am] a poor man, and
lightly esteemed? 24And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. 25And
Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of
the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the
hand of the Philistines. 26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be
the king's son in law: and the days were not expired. 27Wherefore David arose and went, he and
his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they
gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal
his daughter to wife. 28And Saul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with David, and [that] Michal
Saul's daughter loved him. 29And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's
enemy continually.
30Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, [that]
David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set
by.
« 1 Samuel 19 »
King James Bible
Jonathan Warns David
1And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 2But
Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father
seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in
a secret [place], and hide thyself: 3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where
thou [art], and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. 4And
Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against
his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works [have
been] to theeward very good: 5For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the
LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice: wherefore then
wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6And Saul hearkened unto the
voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7And Jonathan
called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and
he was in his presence, as in times past.
Saul Seeks to Kill David
8And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with
a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 9And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he
sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with [his] hand. 10And Saul sought
to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he
smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Michal Saves David
(Acts 9:23-25)
11Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and
Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be
slain. 12So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13And
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. 14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He [is] sick.
15And Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I
may slay him. 16And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was] an image in the bed,
with a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster. 17And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived
me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto
me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
18So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done
to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David
[is] at Naioth in Ramah. 20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the
company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing [as] appointed over them, the Spirit of
God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21And 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. 22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that [is]
in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where [are] Samuel and David? And [one] said, Behold, [they
be] at Naioth in Ramah. 23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon
him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24And he stripped
off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day
and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul also among the prophets?
« 1 Samuel 20 »
King James Bible
Jonathan Helps David
(Psalm 59:1-17)
1And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done?
what [is] mine iniquity? and what [is] my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2And he
said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or
small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it [is] not
[so]. 3And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace
in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the LORD
liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a step between me and death. 4Then said Jonathan
unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do [it] for thee. 5And David said unto
Jonathan, Behold, to morrow [is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat:
but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third [day] at even. 6If thy father at all
miss me, then say, David earnestly asked [leave] of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for
[there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. 7If he say thus, [It is] well; thy servant shall
have peace: but if he be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is determined by him. 8Therefore thou
shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD
with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring
me to thy father? 9And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were
determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? 10Then said David to
Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?
Jonathan and David Renew Covenant
11And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of
them into the field.
12And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to
morrow any time, [or] the third [day], and, behold, [if there be] good toward David, and I then
send not unto thee, and shew it thee; 13The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it
please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest
go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14And thou shalt not
only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 15But [also] thou shalt not
cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of
David every one from the face of the earth. 16So Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of
David, [saying], Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of David's enemies. 17And Jonathan
caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow [is] the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because
thy seat will be empty. 19And [when] thou hast stayed three days, [then] thou shalt go down
quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was [in hand], and
shalt remain by the stone Ezel. 20And I will shoot three arrows on the side [thereof], as though I
shot at a mark. 21And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying], Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly
say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows [are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for
22
[there is] peace to thee, and no hurt; [as] the LORD liveth. But if I say thus unto the young man,
Behold, the arrows [are] beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. 23And [as
touching] the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD [be] between thee and
me for ever.
24So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to
eat meat. 25And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, [even] upon a seat by the wall: and
Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. 26Nevertheless Saul
spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he [is] not clean;
surely he [is] not clean. 27And it came to pass on the morrow, [which was] the second [day] of the
month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not
the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? 28And Jonathan answered Saul, David
earnestly asked [leave] of me [to go] to Bethlehem: 29And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our
family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me [to be there]: and now,
if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore
he cometh not unto the king's table.
Saul Seeks to Kill Jonathan
30Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse
rebellious [woman], do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion,
and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? 31For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon
the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him
unto me, for he shall surely die. 32And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him,
Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him:
whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. 34So Jonathan arose
from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was
grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
35And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed
with David, and a little lad with him. 36And 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. 37And when the lad was come
to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, [Is] not
the arrow beyond thee? 38And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And
Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. 39But the lad knew not any thing:
only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40And Jonathan 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, David arose out of [a
place] toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and
they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42And Jonathan said to
David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The
LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and
departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
« 1 Samuel 21 »
King James Bible
David Takes the Consecrated Bread
(Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5)
1Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of
David, and said unto him, Why [art] thou alone, and no man with thee? 2And David said unto
Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no
man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee:
and I have appointed [my] servants to such and such a place. 3Now therefore what is under thine
hand? give [me] five [loaves of] bread in mine hand, or what there is present. 4And the priest
answered David, and said, [There is] no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed
bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. 5And David answered the
priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women [have been] kept from us about these three days,
since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and [the bread is] in a manner
common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. 6So the priest gave him hallowed
[bread]: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to
put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
7Now a certain man of the servants of Saul [was] there that day, detained before the LORD; and
his name [was] Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that [belonged] to Saul.
8And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have
neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
9And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah,
behold, it [is here] wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take [it]: for [there
is] no other save that here. And David said, [There is] none like that; give it me.
David Flees to Gath
(Psalm 34:1-22; Psalm 52:1-9; Psalm 56:1-13)
10And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
11And the servants of Achish said unto him, [Is] not this David the king of the land? did they not
sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten
thousands?
12And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13And
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. 14Then said Achish unto his
servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore [then] have ye brought him to me? 15Have I need
of mad men, that ye have brought this [fellow] to play the mad man in my presence? shall this
[fellow] come into my house?
« 1 Samuel 22 »
King James Bible
David Flees to Adullam and Mizpeh
(Psalm 57:1-11; Psalm 142:1-7)
1David 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. 2And 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.
3And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and
my mother, I pray thee, come forth, [and be] with you, till I know what God will do for me. 4And
he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in
the hold. 5And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into
the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
Saul Slays the Priests of Nob
6When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that [were] with him, (now Saul abode
in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants [were] standing
about him;) 7Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will
the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, [and] make you all captains of
thousands, and captains of hundreds; 8That all of you have conspired against me, and [there is]
none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and [there is] none
of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against
me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 9Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the
servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath
the Philistine.
11Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the
priests that [were] in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. 12And Saul said, Hear now, thou
son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I [am], my lord. 13And Saul said unto him, Why have ye
conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword,
and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
14Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who [is so] faithful among all thy servants as
David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
15Did I then begin to inquire of God 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 thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or
more. 16And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
17And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the
LORD; because their hand also [is] with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not
shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of
the LORD. 18And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the
Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that
19
did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword,
both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of
the sword.
20And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after
David. 21And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests. 22And David said unto
Abiathar, I knew [it] that day, when Doeg the Edomite [was] there, that he would surely tell Saul: I
have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of thy father's house. 23Abide thou with me, fear
not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou [shalt be] in safeguard.
« 1 Samuel 23 »
King James Bible
David Delivers Keilah
(Psalm 54:1-7)
1Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the
threshingfloors. 2Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these
Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 3And
David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to
Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? 4Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the
LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine
hand. 5So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away
their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, [that] he came
down [with] an ephod in his hand.
Saul Pursues David
7And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into
mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. 8And Saul called all
the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9And David knew
that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither
the ephod. 10Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul
seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. 11Will the men of Keilah deliver me up
into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech
thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. 12Then said David, Will the men of
Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver [thee]
up. 13Then David and his men, [which were] about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah,
and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah;
and he forbare to go forth. 14And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a
mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into
his hand.
15And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David [was] in the wilderness of Ziph
in a wood. 16And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened
his hand in God. 17And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find
thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father
knoweth. 18And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and
Jonathan went to his house.
19Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in
strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] on the south of Jeshimon? 20Now
therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part
[shall be] to deliver him into the king's hand. 21And Saul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye
have compassion on me. 22Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his
23
haunt is, [and] who hath seen him there: for it is told me [that] he dealeth very subtilly. See
therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again
to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that
I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men [were] in the wilderness of
Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. 25Saul also and his men went to seek [him]. And they
told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when
Saul heard [that], he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26And Saul went on this side
of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to
get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take
them. 27But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines
have invaded the land. 28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the
Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. 29And David went up from thence,
and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
« 1 Samuel 24 »
King James Bible
David Spares Saul
1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him,
saying, Behold, David [is] in the wilderness of Engedi. 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men
out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3And he
came to the sheepcotes by the way, where [was] a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and
David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold
the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that
thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of
Saul's robe privily. 5And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had
cut off Saul's skirt. 6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my
master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of
the LORD. 7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against
Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way.
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the
king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed
himself. 9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David
seeketh thy hurt? 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee
to day into mine hand in the cave: and [some] bade [me] kill thee: but [mine eye] spared thee;
and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he [is] the LORD'S anointed.
11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt
of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that [there is] neither evil nor transgression in
mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 12The LORD
judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon
thee. 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine
hand shall not be upon thee. 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou
pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and
thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
David's Oath to Saul
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul
said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17And he said to
David, Thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have
rewarded thee evil. 18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me:
forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 19For if a
man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that
thou hast done unto me this day. 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king,
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21Swear now therefore unto me
by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name
out of my father's house. 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his
men gat them up unto the hold.
« 1 Samuel 25 »
King James Bible
The Death of Samuel
1And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him
in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
David and Nabal
2And [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. 3Now the name of the man [was] Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and [she was] a
woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man [was] churlish and
evil in his doings; and he [was] of the house of Caleb. 4And David heard in the wilderness that
Nabal did shear his sheep. 5And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young
men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: 6And thus shall ye say to
him that liveth [in prosperity], Peace [be] both to thee, and peace [be] to thine house, and peace
[be] unto all that thou hast. 7And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds
which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while
they were in Carmel. 8Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men
find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine
hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
9And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name
of David, and ceased. 10And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who [is] David? and who
[is] the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his
master. 11Shall 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]? 12So David's young men
turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. 13And David said unto
his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also
girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred
abode by the stuff.
14But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out
of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. 15But 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: 16They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while
we were with them keeping the sheep. 17Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for
evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he [is such] a son of Belial,
that [a man] cannot speak to him.
Abigail Intercedes for Nabal
18Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep
ready dressed, and five measures of parched [corn], and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two
hundred cakes of figs, and laid [them] on asses. 19And she said unto her servants, Go on before
me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. 20And it was [so, as] she rode
on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came
down against her; and she met them. 21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this
[fellow] hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that [pertained] unto him: and he
hath requited me evil for good. 22So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of
all that [pertain] to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
23And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her
face, and bowed herself to the ground, 24And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, [upon]
me [let this] iniquity [be]: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear
the words of thine handmaid. 25Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, [even]
Nabal: for as his name [is], so [is] he; Nabal [is] his name, and folly [is] with him: but I thine
handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26Now therefore, my lord, [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath
withholden thee from coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now
let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. 27And now this blessing which
thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my
lord. 28I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my
lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found
in thee [all] thy days. 29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my
lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies,
them shall he sling out, [as out] of the middle of a sling. 30And it shall come to pass, when the
LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee,
and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; 31That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence
of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged
himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
32And David said to Abigail, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet
me: 33And blessed [be] thy advice, and blessed [be] thou, which hast kept me this day from
coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. 34For in very deed, [as]
the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst
hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any
that pisseth against the wall. 35So David received of her hand [that] which she had brought him,
and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have
accepted thy person.
36And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and
Nabal's heart [was] merry within him, for he [was] very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing,
less or more, until the morning light. 37But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was
gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he
became [as] a stone. 38And it came to pass about ten days [after], that the LORD smote Nabal,
that he died.
David Marries Abigail
39And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath pleaded
the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the
LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed
with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. 40And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to
Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. 41And
she arose, and bowed herself on [her] face to the earth, and said, Behold, [let] thine handmaid
[be] a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. 42And Abigail hasted, and arose, and
rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the
messengers of David, and became his wife.
43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
44But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which [was] of
Gallim.
« 1 Samuel 26 »
King James Bible
David Again Spares Saul
1And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of
Hachilah, [which is] before Jeshimon? 2Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph,
having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which [is] before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode
in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4David therefore sent
out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed. 5And David arose, and came to the
place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of
Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother
to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down
with thee. 7So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping
within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay
round about him. 8Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this
day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I
will not [smite] him the second time. 9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? 10David said furthermore,
[As] the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend
into battle, and perish. 11The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the
LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that [is] at his bolster, and the cruse of
water, and let us go. 12So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and
they gat them away, and no man saw [it], nor knew [it], neither awaked: for they [were] all
asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
David Reproves Abner
13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space
[being] between them: 14And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying,
Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who [art] thou [that] criest to the
king? 15And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Israel?
wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy
the king thy lord. 16This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] the LORD liveth, ye [are]
worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where
the king's spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.
17And Saul knew David's voice, and said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And David said, [It is]
my voice, my lord, O king. 18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant?
for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand? 19Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the
king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an
offering: but if [they be] the children of men, cursed [be] they before the LORD; for they have
driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of
Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
Saul Acknowledges his Sin
21Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because
my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred
exceedingly. 22And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young
men come over and fetch it. 23The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his
faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into [my] hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine
hand against the LORD'S anointed. 24And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine
eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all
tribulation. 25Then Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great
[things], and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
« 1 Samuel 27 »
King James Bible
David and the Philistines
1And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: [there is] nothing
better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall
despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 2And
David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that [were] with him unto Achish, the
son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with
his household, [even] David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the
Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 4And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no
more again for him.
5And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in
some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city
with thee? 6Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of
Judah unto this day. 7And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year
and four months.
8And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the
Amalekites: for those [nations were] of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even
unto the land of Egypt. 9And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and
took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned,
and came to Achish. 10And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said,
Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of
the Kenites. 11And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring [tidings] to Gath, saying,
Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so [will be] his manner all the while he
dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. 12And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his
people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
« 1 Samuel 28 »
King James Bible
Philistines Gather against Israel
1And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare,
to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with
me to battle, thou and thy men. 2And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy
servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
3Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his
own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
4And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul
gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5And when Saul saw the host of the
Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6And when Saul inquired of the LORD,
the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Saul and the Medium of Endor
7Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to
her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a
familiar spirit at Endor.
8And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and
they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit,
and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee. 9And the woman said unto him, Behold,
thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the
wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10And
Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to
thee for this thing. 11Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring
me up Samuel. 12And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman
spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou [art] Saul. 13And the king said unto
her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out
of the earth. 14And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said, An old man cometh up;
and he [is] covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with
[his] face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am
sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and
answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou
mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask
of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17And the LORD hath
done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given
it to thy neighbour, [even] to David: 18Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor
executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this
day. 19Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to
morrow [shalt] thou and thy sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into
the hand of the Philistines.
20Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of
Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
21And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold,
thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened
unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto
the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou
mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 23But 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. 24And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she
hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded [it], and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
25And she brought [it] before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up,
and went away that night.
« 1 Samuel 29 »
King James Bible
The Philistines Reject David
1Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a
fountain which [is] in Jezreel. 2And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by
thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish. 3Then said the princes
of the Philistines, What [do] these Hebrews [here]? And Achish said unto the princes of the
Philistines, [Is] not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me
these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell [unto me] unto this day?
4And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto
him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and
let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith
should he reconcile himself unto his master? [should it] not [be] with the heads of these men?
5[Is] not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands,
and David his ten thousands?
6Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, [as] the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright,
and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host [is] good in my sight: for I have not found
evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee
not. 7Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so
long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord
the king? 9And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou [art] good in my sight, as an
angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to
the battle. 10Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come
with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart. 11So David and
his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the
Philistines went up to Jezreel.
« 1 Samuel 30 »
King James Bible
The Amalekites Raid Ziklag
1And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the
Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2And
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. 3So David and his men came to the city, and, behold,
[it was] burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4Then David and the people that [were] with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no
more power to weep. 5And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and
Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of
stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his
daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
David Destroys the Amalekites
7And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod.
And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. 8And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I
pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely
overtake [them], and without fail recover [all]. 9So David went, he and the six hundred men that
[were] with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed. 10But
David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that
they could not go over the brook Besor.
11And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he
did eat; and they made him drink water; 12And 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. 13And David said unto him, To whom
[belongest] thou? and whence [art] thou? And he said, I [am] a young man of Egypt, servant to an
Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick. 14We made an invasion
[upon] the south of the Cherethites, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah, and upon
the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. 15And David said to him, Canst thou bring me
down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor
deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.
16And 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. 17And David smote them from the twilight even
unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young
men, which rode upon camels, and fled. 18And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried
away: and David rescued his two wives. 19And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small
nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any [thing] that they had taken to them:
David recovered all. 20And David took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they drave before those
[other] cattle, and said, This [is] David's spoil.
The Spoils are Divided
21And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David,
whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to
meet the people that [were] with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.
22Then answered all the wicked men and [men] of Belial, of those that went with David, and said,
Because they went not with us, we will not give them [ought] of the spoil that we have recovered,
save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead [them] away, and depart. 23Then
said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath
preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. 24For 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. 25And it was [so] from that day forward,
that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
26And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, [even] to his
friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD; 27To [them]
which [were] in Bethel, and to [them] which [were] in south Ramoth, and to [them] which [were]
in Jattir, 28And to [them] which [were] in Aroer, and to [them] which [were] in Siphmoth, and to
[them] which [were] in Eshtemoa, 29And to [them] which [were] in Rachal, and to [them] which
[were] in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to [them] which [were] in the cities of the Kenites,
30And to [them] which [were] in Hormah, and to [them] which [were] in Chorashan, and to [them]
which [were] in Athach, 31And to [them] which [were] in Hebron, and to all the places where
David himself and his men were wont to haunt.
« 1 Samuel 31 »
King James Bible
Saul's Overthrow and Death
(2 Samuel 1:1-16; 1 Chronicles 10:1-6)
1Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines,
and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 2And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his
sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. 3And the
battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest
these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not;
for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 5And when his armourbearer
saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 6So Saul died, and his
three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
The Philistines Possess the Towns
(1 Chronicles 10:7-10)
7And when the men of Israel that [were] on the other side of the valley, and [they] that [were] on
the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they
forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found
Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9And 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. 10And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they
fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
Jabesh-Gilead's Tribute to Saul
(1 Chronicles 10:11-14)
11And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
12All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his
sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13And they took their
bones, and buried [them] under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.