1Samuel:13-15)

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* Saul reigned one year ; and when he had reigned two years over Israel , * Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel ; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel , and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin : and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent . * And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba , and the Philistines heard of it . And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land , saying , Let the Hebrews hear . * And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines , and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines . And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal . * And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel , thirty thousand chariots , and six thousand horsemen , and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude : and they came up , and pitched in Michmash , eastward from Bethaven . * When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait , (for the people were distressed ,) then the people did hide themselves in caves , and in thickets , and in rocks , and in high places , and in pits . * And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead . As for Saul , he was yet in Gilgal , and all the people followed him trembling . * And he tarried seven days , according to the set time that Samuel had appointed : but Samuel came not to Gilgal ; and the people were scattered from him . * And Saul said , Bring hither a burnt offering to me , and peace offerings . And he offered the burnt offering . * And it came to pass , that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering , behold , Samuel came ; and Saul went out to meet him , that he might salute him . * And Samuel said , What hast thou done ? And Saul said , Because I saw that the people were scattered from me , and that thou camest not within the days appointed , and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash ; * Therefore said I , The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal , and I have not made supplication unto the LORD : I forced myself therefore , and offered a burnt offering . * And Samuel said to Saul , Thou hast done foolishly : thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God , which he commanded thee : for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever . * But now thy kingdom shall not continue : the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart , and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people , because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee . * And Samuel arose , and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin . And Saul numbered the people that were present with him , about six hundred men . * And Saul , and Jonathan his son , and the people that were present with them , abode in Gibeah of Benjamin : but the Philistines encamped in Michmash . * And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies : one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah , unto the land of Shual : * And another company turned the way to Bethhoron : and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness . * Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel : for the Philistines said , Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears : * But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines , to sharpen every man his share , and his coulter , and his axe , and his mattock . * Yet they had a file for the mattocks , and for the coulters , and for the forks , and for the axes , and to sharpen the goads . * So it came to pass in the day of battle , that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan : but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found . * And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash . * Now it came to pass upon a day , that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour , Come , and let us go over to the Philistines ' garrison , that is on the other side . But he told not his father . * And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron : and the people that were with him were about six hundred men ; * And Ahiah , the son of Ahitub , Ichabod 's brother , the son of Phinehas , the son of Eli , the LORD 'S priest in Shiloh , wearing an ephod . And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone . * And between the passages , by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines ' garrison , there was a sharp rock on the one side , and a sharp rock on the other side : and the name of the one was Bozez , and the name of the other Seneh . * The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash , and the other southward over against Gibeah . * And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour , Come , and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised : it may be that the LORD will work for us : for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few . * And his armourbearer said unto him , Do all that is in thine heart : turn thee ; behold , I am with thee according to thy heart . * Then said Jonathan , Behold , we will pass over unto these men , and we will discover ourselves unto them . * If they say thus unto us , Tarry until we come to you ; then we will stand still in our place , and will not go up unto them . * But if they say thus , Come up unto us ; then we will go up : for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand : and this shall be a sign unto us . * And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines : and the Philistines said , Behold , the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves . * And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer , and said , Come up to us , and we will shew you a thing . And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer , Come up after me : for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel . * And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet , and his armourbearer after him : and they fell before Jonathan ; and his armourbearer slew after him . * And that first slaughter , which Jonathan and his armourbearer made , was about twenty men , within as it were an half acre of land , which a yoke of oxen might plow . * And there was trembling in the host , in the field , and among all the people : the garrison , and the spoilers , they also trembled , and the earth quaked : so it was a very great trembling . * And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked ; and , behold , the multitude melted away , and they went on beating down one another . * Then said Saul unto the people that were with him , Number now , and see who is gone from us . And when they had numbered , behold , Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there . * And Saul said unto Ahiah , Bring hither the ark of God . For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel . * And it came to pass , while Saul talked unto the priest , that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased : and Saul said unto the priest , Withdraw thine hand . * And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves , and they came to the battle : and , behold , every man 's sword was against his fellow , and there was a very great discomfiture . * Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time , which went up with them into the camp from the country round about , even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan . * Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim , when they heard that the Philistines fled , even they also followed hard after them in the battle . * So the LORD saved Israel that day : and the battle passed over unto Bethaven . * And the men of Israel were distressed that day : for Saul had adjured the people , saying , Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening , that I may be avenged on mine enemies . So none of the people tasted any food . * And all they of the land came to a wood ; and there was honey upon the ground . * And when the people were come into the wood , behold , the honey dropped ; but no man put his hand to his mouth : for the people feared the oath . * But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath : wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand , and dipped it in an honeycomb , and put his hand to his mouth ; and his eyes were enlightened . * Then answered one of the people , and said , Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath , saying , Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day . And the people were faint . * Then said Jonathan , My father hath troubled the land : see , I pray you , how mine eyes have been enlightened , because I tasted a little of this honey . * How much more , if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found ? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines ? * And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon : and the people were very faint . * And the people flew upon the spoil , and took sheep , and oxen , and calves , and slew them on the ground : and the people did eat them with the blood . * Then they told Saul , saying , Behold , the people sin against the LORD , in that they eat with the blood . And he said , Ye have transgressed : roll a great stone unto me this day . * And Saul said , Disperse yourselves among the people , and say unto them , Bring me hither every man his ox , and every man his sheep , and slay them here , and eat ; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood . And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night , and slew them there . * And Saul built an altar unto the LORD : the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD . * And Saul said , Let us go down after the Philistines by night , and spoil them until the morning light , and let us not leave a man of them . And they said , Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee . Then said the priest , Let us draw near hither unto God . * And Saul asked counsel of God , Shall I go down after the Philistines ? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel ? But he answered him not that day . * And Saul said , Draw ye near hither , all the chief of the people : and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day . * For , as the LORD liveth , which saveth Israel , though it be in Jonathan my son , he shall surely die . But there was not a man among all the people that answered him . * Then said he unto all Israel , Be ye on one side , and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side . And the people said unto Saul , Do what seemeth good unto thee . * Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel , Give a perfect lot . And Saul and Jonathan were taken : but the people escaped . * And Saul said , Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son . And Jonathan was taken . * Then Saul said to Jonathan , Tell me what thou hast done . And Jonathan told him , and said , I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand , and , lo , I must die . * And Saul answered , God do so and more also : for thou shalt surely die , Jonathan . * And the people said unto Saul , Shall Jonathan die , who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel ? God forbid : as the LORD liveth , there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground ; for he hath wrought with God this day . So the people rescued Jonathan , that he died not . * Then Saul went up from following the Philistines : and the Philistines went to their own place . * So Saul took the kingdom over Israel , and fought against all his enemies on every side , against Moab , and against the children of Ammon , and against Edom , and against the kings of Zobah , and against the Philistines : and whithersoever he turned himself , he vexed them . * And he gathered an host , and smote the Amalekites , and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them . * Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan , and Ishui , and Melchishua : and the names of his two daughters were these ; the name of the firstborn Merab , and the name of the younger Michal : * And the name of Saul 's wife was Ahinoam , the daughter of Ahimaaz : and the name of the captain of his host was Abner , the son of Ner , Saul 's uncle . * And Kish was the father of Saul ; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel . * And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul : and when Saul saw any strong man , or any valiant man , he took him unto him . * Samuel also said unto Saul , The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people , over Israel : now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD . * Thus saith the LORD of hosts , I remember that which Amalek did to Israel , how he laid wait for him in the way , when he came up from Egypt . * Now go and smite Amalek , and utterly destroy all that they have , and spare them not ; but slay both man and woman , infant and suckling , ox and sheep , camel and ass . * And Saul gathered the people together , and numbered them in Telaim , two hundred thousand footmen , and ten thousand men of Judah . * And Saul came to a city of Amalek , and laid wait in the valley . * And Saul said unto the Kenites , Go , depart , get you down from among the Amalekites , lest I destroy you with them : for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel , when they came up out of Egypt . So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites . * And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur , that is over against Egypt . * And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive , and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword . * But Saul and the people spared Agag , and the best of the sheep , and of the oxen , and of the fatlings , and the lambs , and all that was good , and would not utterly destroy them : but every thing that was vile and refuse , that they destroyed utterly . * Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel , saying , * It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king : for he is turned back from following me , and hath not performed my commandments . And it grieved Samuel ; and he cried unto the LORD all night . * And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning , it was told Samuel , saying , Saul came to Carmel , and , behold , he set him up a place , and is gone about , and passed on , and gone down to Gilgal . * And Samuel came to Saul : and Saul said unto him , Blessed be thou of the LORD : I have performed the commandment of the LORD . * And Samuel said , What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears , and the lowing of the oxen which I hear ? * And Saul said , They have brought them from the Amalekites : for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen , to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God ; and the rest we have utterly destroyed . * Then Samuel said unto Saul , Stay , and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night . And he said unto him , Say on . * And Samuel said , When thou wast little in thine own sight , wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel , and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel ? * And the LORD sent thee on a journey , and said , Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites , and fight against them until they be consumed . * Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD , but didst fly upon the spoil , and didst evil in the sight of the LORD ? * And Saul said unto Samuel , Yea , I have obeyed the voice of the LORD , and have gone the way which the LORD sent me , and have brought Agag the king of Amalek , and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites . * But the people took of the spoil , sheep and oxen , the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed , to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal . * And Samuel said , Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices , as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? Behold , to obey is better than sacrifice , and to hearken than the fat of rams . * For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft , and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry . Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD , he hath also rejected thee from being king . * And Saul said unto Samuel , I have sinned : for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD , and thy words : because I feared the people , and obeyed their voice . * Now therefore , I pray thee , pardon my sin , and turn again with me , that I may worship the LORD . * And Samuel said unto Saul , I will not return with thee : for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD , and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel . * And as Samuel turned about to go away , he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle , and it rent . * And Samuel said unto him , The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day , and hath given it to a neighbour of thine , that is better than thou . * And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent : for he is not a man , that he should repent . * Then he said , I have sinned : yet honour me now , I pray thee , before the elders of my people , and before Israel , and turn again with me , that I may worship the LORD thy God . * So Samuel turned again after Saul ; and Saul worshipped the LORD . * Then said Samuel , Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites . And Agag came unto him delicately . And Agag said , Surely the bitterness of death is past . * And Samuel said , As thy sword hath made women childless , so shall thy mother be childless among women . And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal . * Then Samuel went to Ramah ; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul . * And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death : nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul : and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel . * And the LORD said unto Samuel , How long wilt thou mourn for Saul , seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel ? fill thine horn with oil , and go , I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite : for I have provided me a king among his sons .

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