 Chapter 1 of First Samuel of the Bible, King James Version Now there was a certain man of Ramathiam Zofim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name was Al-Khana, the son of Yorahum, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuf, and Ephrathite. And he had two wives, the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Panina. And Panina had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went out of his city yearly to worship, and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophne and Phineas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And when the time was that Al-Khana offered, he gave to Panina his wife into all her sons and her daughters' portions. But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had shut up her womb. And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her. Therefore she wept and did not eat. Then said Al-Khana, her husband, to her, Hannah, why reapest thou? And why eatest thou not? And why is thy heart grieved? And not I better to thee than ten sons? So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the Temple of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart, only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she had been drunken, and Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, Know, my Lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. Then she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Rama, and Ilkana knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass when the time was come about, after Hannah had conceived, that she bear a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. And the man Ilkana and all his house went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah went not up, for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever. And Ilkana, her husband, said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good, tarry until thou have weaned him, only the Lord establishes word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her with three bullocks, and one euphoria of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and the child was young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, O my Lord, as thy soul liveth my Lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord, as long as he liveth, he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there. CHAPTER II And Hannah prayed and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beside thee, neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly, let not arrogance come out of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread, and they that were hungry ceased, so that the barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he bringeth low and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the burger from the dung-hill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces. Out of heaven shall he thunder upon them. The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. And Elkhana went to Rama to his house, and the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial. They knew not the Lord. And the priest's custom with the people was that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth at his hand, and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot, or that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh of thee but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireeth. Then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now, and if not I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband, to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Al-Khanna and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. And the Lord visited Hanna so that she conceived, and bear three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? Why hear of your evil dealings by all this people? Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear. ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord and also with men. And they came a man of God unto Eli and said unto him, Thus sayeth the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt and Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephond before me? And did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel, my people? Wherefore the Lord God of Israel sayeth, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me for ever. But now the Lord sayeth, Be it far from me, for then that honor me, I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. Of the days come that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house, and thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. And the man of thine whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart, and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Houghney and Phineas, in one day there shall die, both of them. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind, and I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. End of Chapter 2. Chapter 3 of First Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Joy Chan. The Bible. King James Version. First Samuel. Chapter 3 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days. There was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see. And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli and said, Here am I, for thou calleth me. And he said, I called not, lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not my son, lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down, and it shall be if he called thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant Heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak, for thy servant Heareth. And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. When I begin I will also make an end, for I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth, because his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever. And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee, hide it not from me. God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he said unto thee. And Samuel told him every wit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan, even to Besheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. Chapter 4 of 1 Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible, King James Version, 1 Samuel. Chapter 4. And 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 an affect. And the Philistines put themselves in a ray against Israel, and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines, and they slew of the army in their field about four thousand men. And when the people were coming to the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us today before the Philistines, let us fetch the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh that they might bring from thence the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth between the Cherubims. And the two sons of Eli, Hophne and Phineas, were there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. And when the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the Ark of the Lord was coming to the camp. And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is coming to the camp. And they said, Woe unto us, for there hath not been such a thing here to fall. Woe unto us, who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Quit yourselves like men, and fight. And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten. And they fled every man into his tent. And there was a very great slaughter. For there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the Ark of God was taken. And the two sons of Eli, Hophne and Phineas, were slain. And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. And when he came, low, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the Ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim that he could not see. And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son? And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there have been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophne and Phineas, are dead, and the Ark of God is taken. And it came to pass when he made mention of the Ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck break, and he died, for he was an old man and heavy, and he had judged Israel forty years. And his daughter-in-law, Phineas's wife, was with child, near to be delivered, and when she heard the tidings that the Ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed, for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death, the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not for thou hast borne a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And 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. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible. King James Version. First Samuel. Chapter 5 And the Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashtod. When the Philistines took the Ark of God, they brought it into the House of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashtod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the Ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the Ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold. Only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Nor neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon and Ashtod, unto this day. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashtod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emeralds, even Ashtod and the coast thereof. And when the men of Ashtod saw that it was so, they said, the Ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us, for his hand is sore upon us and upon Dagon our God. They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the Ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath, and they carried it the Ark of the God of Israel about Thither. And it was so that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction, and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emeralds in their secret parts. Therefore they sent the Ark of God to Ekron, and it came to pass as the Ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the Ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the Ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not and our people. For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there. And the men that died not were smitten with the emeralds, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 The First Samuel of the Bible, King James Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible, King James Version, First Samuel. Chapter 6 And the Ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the Ark of the Lord? Tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place. And they said, If ye send away the Ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty, but in any wise return him a trispus offering, then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. Then said they, What shall be the trispus offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emeralds and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on you all and on your lords. Wherefore ye shall make images of your emeralds and images of your mice that mar the land, and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel. Per adventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go and they departed? Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milk-kind, on which they had come no yoke, and tie the kind to the cart, and bring their calves home from them. And take the Ark of the Lord and lay it upon the cart, and put the jewels of gold which ye return him for a trispus offering, in a coffer by the side thereof, and send it away that it may go, and see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemish, when he had 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. And the men did so, and took two milk-kind, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. And they laid the Ark of the Lord upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emeralds. And the kind took the straight way to the way of Bethshemish, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not a side to the right hand or to the left, and the Lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemish. And they of Bethshemish were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they lifted up their eyes and saw the Ark, and rejoiced to see it. And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone. And they claved the wood of the cart, and offered the kind a burnt offering unto the Lord. And the Levites took down the Ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone. And the men of Bethshemish offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord. And when the five Lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned it to Ekron the same day. And these are the golden emeralds which the Philistines returned for a trispous offering unto the Lord. For Ashtod I, for Gaza I, for Escalon I, for Gath I, for Ekron I. And the golden mice according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five Lords, both of fenced cities and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the Ark of the Lord. Each stone remained unto this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite. And he smote the men of Bethshemish, because they had looked into the Ark of the Lord. Even he smote of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten men, and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. And the men of Bethshemish said, Who was able to stand before this holy Lord God, and to whom shall he go up from us? And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Curge-Athurum, saying, The Philistines have brought again the Ark of the Lord. Come ye down and fetch it up to you. Chapter 7 of First Samuel of the Bible, King James Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible, King James Version, First Samuel. Chapter 7 And the men of Curge-Athurum came, and fetched up the Ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab, in the hill, and sanctified Aliza his son to keep the Ark of the Lord. And it came to pass, while the Ark abode in Curge-Athurum, that the time was long, for it was twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. And Samuel spoke 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 the ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalem and ashtaroth, and served the Lord only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. And they gathered together to Mizpah, 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 and Mizpah. And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the Lord's of Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a bird offering, holy unto the Lord. And Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him. And as Samuel was offering up the bird offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomforted them, and they were smitten before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-Kar. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel, and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath, and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines, and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year, in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the Lord. CHAPTER VIII And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his son's judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiyah. They were judges in Bersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after Luke and took bribes and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel, unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Harken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee, For they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, That I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even unto this day, Wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, So do they also unto thee. Now therefore, Harken unto their voice, Habeat yet protest solemnly unto them, And show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, And to be his horsemen, and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties. And he will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, And to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, And to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, Even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, And give them to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your men's servants, and your maidservants, And your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep, and ye shall be his servants, And ye shall cry out in that day, because of your king which ye shall have chosen you, And the Lord will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, Nay, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, Harkon unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 of First Samuel of the Bible. King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible. King James Version. First Samuel. Chapter 9 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bekharath, the son of Afayah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of power, and he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly, and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost, and Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. And he passed through Mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not. Then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not. And he passed through the land of the Benjenites, but they found them not. And when they were come to the land of Zuf, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return, lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. And he said unto him, Behold now there is in the city a man of God, and he is an honorable man. All that he saith cometh surely to pass. Now let us go through the, per-adventure he can show us our way that we should go. Then said Saul to his servant, But behold if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What have we? And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. That will I give to the man of God to tell us our way. Before time 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 before time called a seer. Then said Saul to his servant, Well said, come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was, And as they went up the hill to the city they found young maidens going out to draw water, And said unto them, Is the seer here? And they answered them, and said, He is. Behold, he is before you. Make haste now, for he came to-day to the city, For there is a sacrifice of the people to-day in the high place. As soon as ye become 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 bebidden. Now therefore get you up, for about this time ye shall find him. And they went up into the city, And when they were coming to the city, Behold, Samuel came out against them, For to go up to the high place. Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, Tomorrow 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 cries come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold, the man whom I spake to thee of, This same shall reign over my people. Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the sea is house is. And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the sea. Go up before me unto the high place, For ye shall eat with me to-day, And to-morrow I will let thee go, And will tell thee all that is in thine heart. And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, Set not thy mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee and all thy father's house? And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjaminite of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Wherefore then speakest thou so to me? And Samuel took Saul and his servant, And brought them into the parlour, And made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, Which were about thirty persons. And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, Of which I said unto thee, set it by thee. And the cook took up the shoulder, And that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left, Set it before thee and eat, For unto this time hath it been kept for thee, Since I said I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. And they arose early, And it came to pass about the spring of the day, That Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, He and Samuel, abroad. And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, And he passed on. But stand thou still a while, That I may show thee the word of God. End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 of First Samuel of the Bible This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible. King James Version. First Samuel. Chapter 10. Then Samuel took a vial of oil, And poured it upon his head, And kissed him and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee To be captain over his inheritance? When thou art departed from me to-day, Then thou shalt find two men by Rachel Suppelsher In the border of Benjamin at Zelzer, And they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found, And, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses And Sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? Then shalt thou go on forward from Thence, And thou shalt come to the plain of Table, And there shall meet thee three men Going up to God to Bethel, One carrying three kids, And another carrying three loaves of bread, And another carrying a bottle of wine, And they will salute thee, And give thee two loaves of bread, Which thou shalt receive of their hands. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, Where is the garrison of the Philistines? And it shall come to pass, When thou art confidder to the city, That thou shalt meet a company of prophets Coming down from the high place with a sultry, And a tabaret, and a pipe, and a harp before them, And they shall prophesy. And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, And thou shalt prophesy with them, And shalt be turned into another man. And let it be when these signs are come unto thee, That thou doest occasion serve thee, For God is with thee. And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal, And behold, I will come down unto thee To offer burnt offerings, And to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings, Seven days shalt thou tarry, Till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do. And it was so, that when he had turned his back To go from Samuel, God gave him another heart, And all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, Behold, a company of prophets met him, And the Spirit of God came upon him, And he prophesied among them. And it came to pass when all that knew him before time saw that, Behold, he prophesied among the prophets. Then the people said one to another, What is this that is coming to the Son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had made an end of prophesying, He came to the high place. And Saul's uncle said unto him into his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses, And when we saw they were nowhere, We came to Samuel. And Saul's uncle said, Tell me I pray thee what Samuel said unto you. And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found, But of the matter of the kingdom, Were of Samuel's spake, he told him not. And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord To Mizpah, and said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, And delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, And out of the hand of all kingdoms, And of them that oppressed you. And ye have this day rejected your God, Who himself saved you out of all your adversities And your tribulations. And ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord By your tribes and by your thousands. And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel To come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin To come near by their families, The family of Matri was taken, And Saul the son of Kish was taken, And when they sought him he could not be found. Therefore they inquired of the Lord further If the man should yet come thither, And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. And they ran and fetched him fence, And when he stood among the people, He was higher than any of the people From his shoulders and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye whom the Lord hath chosen, That there is none like him among all the people. And all the people shouted and said, God save the king. Then Samuel told the people The manor of the kingdom, And wrote it in a book, And laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, Every man to his house. And Saul also went to Jibir, And there went with him a band of men, Whose hearts God had touched. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, And brought no presence, But he held his peace. End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Droy Charn The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 11 Then Nehersh the Ammonite came up And we camped against Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said unto Nehersh, Make a covenant with us and we will serve thee. And Nehersh the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, That I may thrust out all your right eyes, And lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite That we may send messages unto all the coasts of Israel. And then, if there be no man to save us, We will come out to thee. Then came the messengers Sajibiyah of Saul, And told the tidings in the ears of the people, And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field, And Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep! And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God came upon Saul When he heard those tidings, And his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen and hewed them in pieces, And sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel By the hands of messengers saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, So shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, And they came out with one consent. And when he numbered them in Bezek, The children of Israel were three hundred thousand, And the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said unto the messengers that came. Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh Gilead, Tomorrow by that time the sun be hot, Ye shall have help. And the messengers came and showed it to the men of Jabesh, And they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, And ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. And it was so on the morrow that Saul put the people in three companies, And they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, And slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day, And it came to pass that they which remained were scattered, So that two of them were not left together. And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day, For to-day the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, And renew the kingdom there. And all the people went to Gilgal, And there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal, And there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord, And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on to volunteer, Please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible. King James Version. First Samuel. Chapter 12 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice And all that ye said unto me, And have made a king over you. And now behold, the king walketh before you, And I am old and gray-headed. And behold, my sons are with you, And I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am, Witnessed 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 the Lord? Or of whose hand have I received any bribe To blind my eyes therewith, And I will restore it you? And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, Neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, And his anointed is witness this day, That ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, And that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand still, That I may reason with you before the Lord Of all the righteous acts of the Lord, Which he did to you and to your fathers. When Jacob was coming to Egypt, And your fathers cried out unto the Lord, Then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, Which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, And made them dwell in this place. And when they forgot the Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of Cicero, Captain of the host of Hazel, And into the hand of the Philistines, And into the hand of the king of Moab, And they fought against them. And they cried unto the Lord and said, We have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord, And have served Baalim and Ashtaroth, But now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, And we will serve thee. And the Lord sent Rubal, And Bilan, And Jephtha, And Samuel, And delivered you out of the hand of your enemies, On every side, And ye dwelled safe. And when ye saw that Nehash, The king of the children of Ammon, Came against you, Ye said unto me, Nay, But a king shall reign over us, When the Lord your God was your king. Now therefore, Behold the king whom ye have chosen, And whom ye have desired, And behold the Lord hath set a king over you. If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, And obey his voice, And not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, Then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you, Continue following the Lord your God. But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, But rebel against the commandment of the Lord, Then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, As it was against your fathers. Now therefore stand and see this great thing Which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto the Lord, And he shall send thunder and rain, That ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, Which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, In asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the Lord, And the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, And all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, That we die not, For we have added unto all our sins this evil, To ask us a king. And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not, Ye have done all this wickedness, Yet turn not aside from following the Lord, But serve the Lord with all your heart, And turn ye not aside. For then should ye go after vain things Which cannot profit nor deliver, For they are vain. For the Lord will not forsake his people For his great namesake, Because it hath pleased the Lord To make you his people. Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord In ceasing to pray for you, But I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him In truth with all your heart, For consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, He shall be consumed, both ye and your king. End of chapter 12 Chapter 13 of First Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 13 Saul reigned one year, and when he had reigned two years over Israel, Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, were of two thousand were with Saul in Michmash, and in Mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Jibreah of Benjamin, and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Giba, and the Philistines heard of it, and Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines, and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude, and they came up and pitched in Michmash eastward from Beth Avon. When the men of Israel saw that they were in astray, for the people were distressed, then the people did hide themselves in caves and in thickets, and in rocks and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad in Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling. And he tarried seven days according to the set time that Samuel had appointed. But Samuel came not to Gilgal, and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring her there a burnt offering to me and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold Samuel came, and Saul went out to meet him that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou came as not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at McMash. Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord. I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. And Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal unto Yibir of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. And Saul and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Yibir of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in McMash. And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophra, unto the land of Shu'al. And another company turned to the way to Betharon. And another company turned to the way of the border to the valley of Zebraim, toward the wilderness. Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears. But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his share, and his colter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the colters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan. But with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of McMash. Now it came to pass upon a day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said unto the young man that bear his armor, come, and let us go over to the Philistines garrison that is on the other side. But he told not his father. And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree, and he told not his father. But he told not his father. And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree, which is in Migron, and the people that were with him were about six hundred men. And are here the son of Ahetub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phineas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. And between the passages by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines garrison there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of the one was Boses, and the name of the other Sene. The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. And Jonathan said to the young man that bear his armour. Come, let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. And his armour bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart, turn thee, behold, I am with thee according to thy heart. Then said Jonathan, behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. And if they say unto us, Tarry until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, come up unto us, for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand, and this shall be a sign unto us. And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour bearer and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armour bearer, Come up after me, for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet and his armour bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan and his armour bearer slew after him. And that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armour bearer made was about twenty men, within as it were, and half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people, the garrison and the swirlers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked, so it was a very great trembling. And the watchmen of Saul and Gibea of Benjamin looked, and Behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, number now and see who has gone from us. And when they had numbered, Behold, Jonathan and his armour bearer were not there. Saul said unto Ahir, bring hither the ark of God, for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased, and Saul said unto the priest, withdraw thine hand. And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle. And Behold, every man's sword seized his fellow, and there was a very great discomforture. Moreover, the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise, all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over unto Beth Avon. And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had adjured the people, saying, curse it be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. And all day of the land came to a wood, and there was honey upon the ground. And when the people will come unto the wood, behold, the honey dropped. But no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the earth. But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the earth, wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened. Then answered one of the people and said, thy father straightly charged the people with an earth, saying, curse it be the man that eateth any food this day, and the people were faint. Then said Jonathan, my father had troubled the land. See, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more have happily the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of the enemies which they found? For had there not been now a much greatest slaughter among the Philistines? And they smote the Philistines that day from McMash to Aegean, and the people were very faint. And the people flew upon the spoil and took sheep, and oxen, and carves, and slew them on the ground, and the people did eat them with the blood. Then they told Saul, saying, behold, the people sin against the Lord in that they eat with the blood. And he said, ye have transgressed, roll a great stode unto me this day. And Saul said, disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, bring me hither every man his ox and every man his sheep, and slay them here and eat, and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. And Saul built an altar unto the Lord, the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord. And Saul said, let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, do whatsoever seemeth good unto God. Then said the priest, let us draw near hither unto God. And Saul asked counsel of God, shall I go down after the Philistines, wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day. And Saul said, draw ye near hither all the chief of the people, and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day, for as the Lord liveth which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. Then said he unto all Israel, be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be ye on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, do what seemeth good unto thee. Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, give a perfect lot, and Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. And Saul said, cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and lo I must die. And Saul answered, God do so and more also, shall surely die Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, shall Jonathan die who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid as the Lord liveth there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. Then Saul went up from following the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zoba, and against the Philistines, and with a survivor he turned himself, he vexed them. And he gathered and host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. Now the sons of Saul were Joshua and Malkishua, and the names of his two daughters were these, the name of the first born, Mareb, and the name of the younger, Michael. And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoem, the daughter of Ahimas, and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Neh, Saul's uncle. And Kish was the father of Saul, and Neh the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. And there was Saul 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. End of chapter 14 Chapter 15 of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version 1 Samuel Chapter 15 Samuel also said unto Saul The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people over Israel Now therefore harken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord Thus saith the Lord of hosts I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid weight for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. And Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Talaim two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid weight in the valley. And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them, for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havela unto thou comest to Shear, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. But everything that was vile and refute, that they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the lord unto Samuel, saying, It repented me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel, and he cried unto the lord all night. And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and behold he set him up a place, and has gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the lord, I have performed the commandment of the lord. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleeding of the sheep in mine ears, showing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the lord thy god, and the rest we have utterly destroyed. Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on! And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own land, was thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the lord anointed thee king over Israel. And the lord sent thee on a journey and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore, then, didst thou not obey the voice of the lord, but it's fly upon the spoil, and it's evil in the sight of the lord? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the lord, and have gone the way which the lord sent me, and have brought agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep, and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the lord thy god in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the lord his great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the lord and thy words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me that I may worship the lord. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the lord, and the lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, The lord hath rented the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine that is better than thou. And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent. Then he said, I have sinned, yet honor me now I pray thee before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me that I may worship the lord thy god. So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshiped the lord. Then said Samuel, bring ye hither to me Agag, the king of the Amelokites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. And Samuel said, as the sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the lord in Gilgal. Then Samuel went to Rama, and Saul went up to his house for a year of Saul. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 16 And the Lord said unto Samuel How long were thou mourned for Saul seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil and go I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said Go, if Saul hear it he will kill me. And the Lord said Take in her for with thee and say I am come to sacrifice to the Lord and call Jesse to the sacrifice and I will show thee what thou shalt do. And thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the Lord spake and came to Bethlehem and the elders of the town trembled at his coming and said Come us thou peaceably. And the Lord said Peaceably I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass when there were come that he looked on Eliab and said Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel Look not on his countenance for the Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel and he said Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Then Jesse made Shama to pass by and he said Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Again Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel and Samuel said unto Jesse The Lord hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse Are here all thy children? And he said There remaineth yet the youngest and behold he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse Send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and with all of the beautiful countenance and goodly to look to, and the Lord arise, anoint him for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of Oral 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 Rama. But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul's servants said unto him Behold now an evil spirit from God troubled thee. Let our Lord now command thy servants which are before thee to seek out a man who is a cunning player on an harp, and it shall come to pass when the evil spirit from God is upon thee that he shall play with his hand and thou shall be well. And Saul said unto his servants Provide me now a man that can play well and bring him to me. Then answered one of the servants and said, Behold I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite that is cunning in playing and a mighty, valiant man and a man of war and prudent in matters and a comely person and the Lord is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse and said Send me David thy son which is with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread and a bottle of wine and a kid and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul and stood before him and he loved him greatly and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse saying Let David I pray thee stand before me for he hath found favor in my sight. And it came to pass when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul that David took an harp and played with his hand so Saul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him. End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of First Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 17 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle and were gathered together at Shotro which belonged to Judah and pitched between Shotro and Ezekah in Ephesdamen. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head and he was armed with a coat of mail and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass and he had greaves of brass upon his legs and a target of brass between his shoulders and the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried into the armies and said unto them, why ye come out to set your battle in array and not I a Philistine and ye servants to Saul choose you a man for you and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me and to kill me then will we be your servants but if I reveal against him and kill him then shall ye be our servants and serve us. And the Philistines said I defy the armies of Israel this day give me a man that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistines they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah whose name was Jesse and he had eight sons and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul and the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliob the firstborn and next unto him a binadab and the third Shama and David was the youngest and the three eldest followed Saul but David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem and the Philistine drew near morning and evening and presented himself forty days and Jesse said unto David his son take now for thy brethren and offer of this parched corn and these ten loaves and run to the camp of thy brethren and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand and look how thy brethren fare and take their pledge. Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Eliob fighting with the Philistines and David rose up early in the morning and left the sheep with the keeper and took and went as Jesse and he came to the trench as the host was going forth to the fight and shouted for the battle for Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array army against army and David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage and ran into the army and came and saluted his brethren and as he talked with them behold there came up the champion the Philistine of Gath Goliath by name and David spoke according to the same words and David heard them and all the men of Israel when they saw the man fled from him and were so afraid and the men of Israel said have you seen this man that has come up surely to defy Israel is he come up and it shall be that the man who killeth him the king will enrich him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel and David spoke to the men that stood by him saying what shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and takeeth away the reproach from Israel for who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God and the people answered him after this man is saying so shall it be done to the man that killeth him and Elieb the eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men and Elieb's anger was kindled why camest thou down hither and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle and David said what have I now done is there not a cause and he turned from him toward another and spake after the same manor and the people answered him again after the former manor and when the words were heard which David spake they rehearsed them before Saul and he sent for him and David said to Saul let no man's heart fail because of him thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine and Saul said to David thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him for thou art but a youth and he a man of war from his youth and David said unto Saul thy servant kept his father's sheep and they came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock and I went out after him and smote him and delivered it out of his mouth and when he rose against me I caught him by his beard and smote him and slew him thy servant slew both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them seeing he had defied the armies of the living god David said moreover and out of the lion and out of the paw of the bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine and Saul said unto David go and the lord be with thee and Saul armed David with his armour and he put a helmet of brass upon his head also he armed him with a coat of mail and David girded his sword upon his armour and he assayed to go for he had not proved it and David said unto Saul for I have not proved them and David put them off him and he took his staff in his hand and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had even in a script and his sling was in his hand and he drew near to the Philistine and the Philistine came on and drew near unto David and the man that bear their shield went before him and when the Philistine looked about before David he disdained him for he was but a youth and ruddy and of a fair countenance and the Philistine said unto David am I a dog that thou comest to me with starves and the Philistine cursed David by his gods and the Philistine said to David come to me and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field then said David to the Philistine thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts the God of the armies of Israel whom thou hast defied this day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and all this assembly shall know that the Lord sayeth not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands and it came to pass when the Philistine arose and came and drew nigh to meet David that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine and David put his hand in his bag and took thence a stone and slang it and smote the Philistine in his forehead that the stone sunk into his forehead and he fell upon his face to the earth so David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone and smote the Philistine and slew him but there was no sword in the hand of David therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof and slew him and cut off his head therewith and when the Philistines saw their champion was dead they fled and the men of Israel later arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines until they'll come to the valley and to the gates of Echron and the wounded of the Philistines fell down by their way to Shareim even unto Gath and unto Echron and the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines and they spoiled their tents and David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem but he put his armour in his tent and when Saul saw David forth against the Philistine he said unto Abna the captain of the host Abna, whose son is this youth? and Abna said as thy soul liveeth, O king I cannot tell and the king said inquire thou whose son this stripling is and as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine Abna took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand and Saul said to him whose son art thou thou young man and David answered I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of First Samuel of the Bible King James Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan the Bible First Samuel Chapter 18 and it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul and Saul took him that day and would let him go no more home to his father's house then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul and Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle and David went out with the so ever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely and Saul set him over the men of war and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants and it came to pass as they came when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine that the women came out of all cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tabarets, with joy and with instruments of music and the women answered one another as they played and said Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands and Saul was very wroth and the saying displeased him and he said they have ascribed unto David ten thousands and to me they have ascribed but thousands and what can he have more than the kingdom and Saul eyed David from that day and forward and it came to pass on the morrow that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul and he prophesied in the midst of the house and David played with his hand as at other times and there was a javelin in Saul's hand and Saul cast the javelin for he said I will smite David even to the wall with it and David avoided out of his presence twice and Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him and was departed from Saul therefore Saul removed him from him and made him his captain over a thousand and he went out and came in before the people and David behaved himself wisely in all his ways and the Lord was with him wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely he was afraid of him but all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them and Saul said to David behold my elder daughter Murab her will I give thee to wife only be thou valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles for Saul said let not mine hand be upon him but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him and David said unto Saul who am I and what is my life or my father's family in Israel should be son and law to the king but it came to pass at the time when Murab Saul's daughter should have been given to David that she was given unto Adriel the mehalothite to wife and Michael Saul's daughter loved David and they told Saul and the thing pleased him and Saul said I will give him her that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him David thou shalt this day be my son and law in the one of the twain and Saul commanded his servants saying commune with David secretly and say behold the king hath delight in thee and all his servants love thee now therefore be the king's son and law and Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David and David said seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son and law man and lightly esteemed and the servants of Saul told him saying on this manner spake David and Saul said thus shall you say to David the king desireeth not any dowry but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines to be avenged of the king's enemies but Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines and when his servants told David these words it pleased David well to be the king's son and law and the days were not expired wherefore David arose and went he and his men and slew of the Philistines two hundred men and David brought their foreskins and they gave them in full tale to the king that he might be the king's son and law and Saul gave him Michael his daughter to wife and Saul saw knew that the Lord was with David and that Michael Saul's daughter loved him and Saul was yet the more afraid of David and Saul became David's enemy continually then the princes of the Philistines went forth and it came to pass after they went forth that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul so that his name was much set by End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of First Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 19 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants that they should kill David But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David and Jonathan told David saying Saul my father seeketh to kill thee and therefore I pray thee take heed to thyself until the morning and abide in a secret place and hide thyself and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art and I will commune with my father of thee and what I see that I will tell thee And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father and said unto him let not the king sin against his servant against David because his works have been to thee very good for he did put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel Thou sawest it and its rejoice wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood to slay David without a cause And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan and Saul swore as the Lord liveth he shall not be slain and Jonathan showed him all those things and Jonathan brought David to Saul and he was in his presence as in times past and there was war again and David went out and fought with the Philistines and slew them with a great slaughter and they fled from him and the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand and David played with his hand and Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin but he slipped away out of Saul's presence and he smoked the javelin into the wall and David fled and escaped that night Saul also sent messengers unto David's house to watch him and to slay him in the morning and Michael David's wife told him saying if thou save not thy life tonight tomorrow thou shalt be slain so Michael let David down through a window and he went and escaped and Michael took an image and laid it in the bed and put a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster and covered it with a cloth and when Saul sent messengers to take David she said he is sick and Saul sent the messengers again to see David saying bring him up to me in the bed that I may slay him and when the messengers were come in behold there was an image in the bed with a pillow of goat's hair for his bolster and Saul said unto Michael why has thou deceived me so and sent away my enemy that he is escaped and Michael answered Saul he said unto me let me go why should I kill thee so David fled and escaped and came to Samuel to Rama and told him all that Saul had done to him and he and Samuel went and dwelt in Neoth and it was told Saul saying behold David is at Neoth in Rama and Saul sent messengers to take David and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as appointed over them the spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied and when it was told Saul he sent other messengers and they prophesied likewise and Saul sent messengers again the third time and they prophesied also then went he also to Rama and came to a great war where Samuel is in Setu and he asked and said where are Samuel and David and one said behold they be at Neoth in Rama and he went thither to Neoth in Rama and the spirit of God was upon him also and he went on and prophesied until he came to Neoth in Rama and he stripped off his clothes also and prophesied before Samuel in like manner and lay down naked all that day all that night wherefore they say is Saul also among the prophets and David fled from Neoth in Rama and came and said before Jonathan what have I done what has mine iniquity and what is my sin before thy father that he seeketh my life and he said unto him God forbid thou shalt not die behold my father will do nothing either great or small but that he will show it me and why should my father hide this thing from me it is not so however thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes and he saith let not Jonathan know this lest he be grieved but truly as the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth there is but a step between me and death then said Jonathan unto David whatsoever thy soul desireeth I will even do it for thee and David said unto Jonathan behold tomorrow is the new moon to sit with the king at meet but let me go that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even if thy father at all miss me then say David earnestly ask leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family if he saith thus it is well thy servant shall have peace but if he be very wroth then be sure that evil is determined by him therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant for thou has brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee notwithstanding if there be in me iniquity slay me thyself for why shouldst thou bring me to thy father and Jonathan said far be it from thee for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee then would not I tell it thee then said David to Jonathan who shall tell me or what if thy father answers thee roughly and Jonathan said unto David come and let us go out into the field and they went out both of them into the field and Jonathan said unto David O Lord God of Israel when I have sounded my father about tomorrow any time or the third day and behold if they be good toward David and I then said not unto thee and show it thee the Lord do so and much more to Jonathan but if it please my father to do thee evil then I will show it thee and send thee away that thou mayst go in peace and the Lord be with thee as he hath been with my father and thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the Lord that I die not but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house forever no not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David everyone from the face of the earth so Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David saying let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies and Jonathan caused David to swear again because he loved him for he loved him as he loved his own soul then Jonathan said to David tomorrow is the new moon and thou shalt be missed because thy seat will be empty and when thou hast stayed three days then thou shalt go down quickly and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand thou shalt remain by the stone easel and I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof as though I shot at a mark and behold I will send a lad saying go find out the arrows if I expressly say unto the lad behold the arrows are on this side of thee take them then come thou for there is peace to thee and no hurt as the Lord liveth but if I say thus unto the young man behold the arrows are beyond thee go thy way for the Lord hath sent thee away and as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of behold the Lord be between thee and me for ever so David hid himself in the field and when the new moon was come the king sat him down to eat meat and the king sat upon his seat as at other times even upon a seat by the wall and Jonathan arose and Abner sat by Saul's side and David's place was empty nevertheless Saul spoke not anything that day for he thought something hath befallen him he is not clean surely he is not clean and it came to pass on the Murrow 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 meet neither yesterday nor today and Jonathan answered Saul David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem and he said let me go I pray thee for our family hath a sacrifice in the city and my brother he hath commanded me to be there and now if I have found favour in thine eyes let me get away I pray thee and see my brethren therefore he cometh not unto the king's table then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan and he said unto him thou son of the perverse rebellious woman do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness for as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground thou shalt not be established nor thy kingdom wherefore now send and fetch him unto me for he shall surely die and Jonathan answered Saul his father and said unto him wherefore shall he be slain what hath he done and Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him and determined of his father to slay David so Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger and did eat no meat the second day of the month for he was grieved for David because his father had done him shame and it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David and a little lad with him and he said unto his lad run find out now the arrows which I shoot and as the lad ran I shot an arrow beyond him and when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot Jonathan cried after the lad and said is not the arrow beyond thee and Jonathan cried after the lad make speed haste stay not and Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and came to his master but the lad knew not anything only Jonathan and David knew the matter and Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad and said unto him go carry them to the city and as soon as the lad was gone David arose out of a place toward the south and fell on his face to the ground and bowed himself three times and they kissed one another and wept one with another until David exceeded and Jonathan said to David go in peace for as much 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 forever and he arose and departed and Jonathan went into the city End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of First Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 21 Then came David to Knob to Ahimelech the priest and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David and said unto him why art thou alone and no man with thee? and David said unto Ahimelech the priest the king hath commanded me a business and hath said unto me let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send thee and what I have commanded thee and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place now therefore what is under thy hand give me five loaves of bread in my hand and what there is present and the priest answered David and said there is no common bread under my hand but there is hallowed bread if the young men have kept themselves at least from women and David answered the priest and said unto him of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days since I came out and the vessels of the young men are holy and the bread is in a manner common yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel so the priest gave him hallowed bread for there was no bread there but the show bread that was taken from before the Lord to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day detained before the Lord and his name was Doeg and Edomite the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul and David said unto Ahimelech and is there not here under thine hand spear or sword for I have neither brought my sword nor weapons with me because the king's business required haste and the priest said the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom thou sluice in the valley of Elah behold it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod if thou wilt take that take it for there is no other save that here and David said there is none like that give it me and David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Akish the king of Gath and the servants of Akish said unto him is not this David the king of the land did they not sing one to another of him and dance as saying Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands and David laid up these words in his heart and was so afraid of Akish the king of Gath and he changed his behaviour before them and feigned himself mad in their hands and scrambled on the doors of the gate and let his spittle fall down upon his beard then said Akish unto his servants Lo! you see the man is mad wherefore then have you brought him to me have I need of mad men that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence shall this fellow come into my house End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of First Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 22 David therefore departed thence and escaped to the cave Adelam and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it they went down thither to him and every one that was in distress and every one that was in debt and every one that was discontented gathered themselves unto him and he became a captain over them and there were with him about four hundred men and David went thence to mispar of Moab and he said unto the king of Moab Let my father and my mother, I pray thee come forth and be with you till I know what God will do for me and he brought them before the king and he brought them before the king of Moab and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold and the prophet Gad said unto David abide not in the hold depart and get thee into the land of Judah then David departed and came into the forest of Harith when Saul heard that David was discovered and the men that were with him now Saul abode in Yubia under a tree in Rama having his spear in his hand and all his servants were standing about him then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him Here now you Benjamites will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds that all of you have conspired against me and there is none that showeth 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 showeth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait as at this day then answered David the Edomite which was set over the servants of Saul and said I saw the son of Jesse coming to Knob to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him victuals and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest the son of Ahitub and all his father's house the priests that were in Knob and they came all of them to the king and Saul said here now thou son of Ahitub and he answered here I am my Lord and Saul said unto him why have you conspired against me thou and the son of Jesse and that thou hast given him bread and a sword and hast inquired of God for him that he should rise against me to lie in wait as at this day then Ahimelech answered the king and said and who is so faithful among all thy servants and goeth at thy bidding and is honourable in thine house did I then begin to inquire of God for him be it far from me that not the king impute anything unto his servant nor to all the house of my father for thy servant knew nothing of all this less or more and the king said thou shalt surely die Ahimelech thou and all thy father's house and the king said unto the footmen that stood about him turn and slay the priests of the Lord because their hand also is with David and because they knew when he fled and did not show it to me but the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord and the king said to Doeig turn thou and fall upon the priests and Doeig the Edomite turned and he fell upon the priests and slew on that day four score and five persons that did wear linen ephod and knob the city of the priests smote he with the edge of the sword both men and women children and sucklings and oxen and asses and sheep with the edge of the sword and one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub named Ebiathar escaped and fled after David and Ebiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests and David said unto Ebiathar I knew it that day when Doeig the Edomite was there that he would surely tell Saul I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house abide thou with me fear not for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life but with me thou shalt be in safeguard End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of First Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version First Samuel Chapter 23 Then they told David saying Behold, the Philistines fight against Kila and they rob the threshing floors Therefore David inquired of the Lord saying Shall I go and smite these Philistines and the Lord said unto David Go and smite the Philistines and save Kila And David's men said unto him Behold, we be afraid here in Judah how much more than if we come to Kila against the armies of the Philistines Then David inquired of the Lord yet again and the Lord answered him and said Arise, go down to Kila for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand So David and his men went to Kila and fought with the Philistines and brought away their cattle and smote them with a great slaughter So David saved the inhabitants of Kila And it came to pass when Abietha the son of Ahimelek fled to David to Kila that he came down with an ephod in his hand and it was told Saul that David was come to Kila And Saul said, God had delivered him into mine hand for he is shut in by entering into a town that hath gates and bars and Saul called all the people together to war to go down to Kila to besiege David and his men And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him and he said to Abietha the priest bring hither the ephod Then said David O Lord God of Israel Thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Kila to destroy the city for my sake Will the men of Kila deliver me up into his hand Will Saul come down as thy servant hath heard O Lord God of Israel I besiege thee, tell thy servant And the Lord said he will come down Then said David Will the men of Kila deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul And the Lord said they will deliver thee up Then David and his men which were about six hundred arose and departed out of Kila to wherever they could go And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Kila and he forbear to go forth And David abode in the wilderness in strongholds and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziff And Saul sought him every day but God delivered him not into his hand And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life And David was in the wilderness of Ziff in a wood and the man arose and went to David into the wood and strengthened his hand in God And he said unto him Fear not, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee and thou shalt be king over Israel and I shall be next unto thee And that also saw my father Loeth And they too made a covenant before the Lord and David abode in the wood and Jonathan went to his house Then came up the Ziffites to give he a saying Doth not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the wood in the hill of Hecola which is on the south of Jeshimon Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand And Saul said Blessed be ye of the Lord for ye have compassion on me Go, I pray you, prepare yet for you have seen him there for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly See therefore and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideeth himself and come ye again to me with the certainty and I will go with you and it shall come to pass if he be in the land that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah And they arose and went to Ziff before Saul But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maun in the plain on the south of Jeshimon Saul also and his men went to seek him and they told David wherefore he came down into a rock and abode in the wilderness of Maun and when Saul heard that he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maun and Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men on that side of the mountain and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul for Saul and his men compass David and his men round bout to take them But they came a messenger unto Saul saying haste thee and come for the Philistines have invaded the land wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines therefore they called that place Selahamalekov and David went