Saul the king

11 About a month later Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, ‘Make terms with us and we will serve you.’ 2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, ‘On this condition will I make terms with you: that I gouge out the right eye of each of you and by this bring disgrace on all Israel.’ 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, ‘Give us seven days respite, so that we can send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if there be no one to save us we will surrender to you.’ 4 So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and recounted the facts in the hearing of the people, and all the people wept aloud.

5 Saul was just coming from the field, driving the oxen. He said, ‘What is the trouble with the people? Why are they weeping?’ Then they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 The spirit of the Lord rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly aroused. 7 He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, ‘Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so will it be done to his oxen!’ Then a terror from the Lord fell upon the people, and they rallied as one man.

8 He mustered them in Bezek. The Israelites were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 They said to the messengers who came, ‘Say this to the men of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun becomes hot, deliverance will have come to you.’ So the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh. They rejoiced, 10 and said to Nahash, ‘Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever you please.’ 11 On the following day, Saul divided the people into three divisions. They came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and massacred the Ammonites, until the heat of the day. The survivors scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12 The people said to Samuel, ‘Who is he who said, “Saul will not reign over us?” Bring the men that we may put them to death!’ 13 But Saul said, ‘Today no one will be put to death, because today the Lord has brought deliverance to Israel.’

14 Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.’ 15 All the people went to Gilgal. There they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal, and sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and there Saul and all the men of Israel held a great celebration.

12 Samuel said to all Israel, ‘See, I have listened to you in all that you have said to me and have appointed a king over you. 2 From now on, behold the king who will lead you. As for me, I am old and grey, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth to this day. 3 Here I am! Testify against me before the Lord, and before his annointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I oppressed? Whom have I defrauded? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to turn a blind eye? Testify and I will restore it to you.’ 4 They said, ‘You have not oppressed us, nor defrauded us, nor have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.’ 5 So he said to them, ‘The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.’ They said, ‘He is witness.’

6 Then Samuel said to the people, ‘The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore take your stand so that I may declare to you before the Lord all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your ancestors. 8 When Jacob came to Egypt, and your ancestors cried to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron to bring your ancestors out of Egypt, and settled them in this place. 9 But they forgot the Lord their God, and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of King Jabin of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab. They fought against them, 10 and cried to the Lord and said, ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and the Astartes. Deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’ 11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Barak, and Jephthah, and Samson, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies surrounding you so that you lived in safety. 12 But when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, “No, but a king must reign over us,” although the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, for the Lord has now set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the Lord and serve him and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God, then it will be well. 15 But if you will not listen to the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then will the hand of the Lord be against you and your king. 16 Now therefore take your stand and see this great thing that the Lord is about to do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord to send thunder and rain. You will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord in asking for a king.’ 18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. All the people were greatly afraid of the Lord and Samuel.

19 Then all the people said to Samuel, ‘Intercede with the Lord your God in behalf of your servants so that we do not die, because we have added to all our sins the crime of asking for a king.’ 20 But Samuel said to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid, you have indeed done all this evil, but do not turn aside from following the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart, 21 and do not turn aside after useless things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are useless. 22 For the Lord because of his great name will not cast away his people, for the Lord has undertaken to make you his own people. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart, for you see the great things he has done for you. 25 But if you persist in doing wrong, both you and your king will be swept away. 13 Saul was … years old when he began to reign, and he reigned … and two years over Israel.[fn]

2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and on the mountain of Bethel and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent to their homes. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the news reached the Philistines that the Hebrews were in revolt. But Saul had in the meantime caused the trumpet to be blown throughout all the land, 4 and all Israel heard the news that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had brought itself into ill odor with the Philistines. The people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.

5 The Philistines were gathered together to fight with Israel – thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and fighters as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They came up and encamped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 6 When the Israelites saw that they were in a strait (for the fighters were hard pressed), they hid themselves in caves, in holes, in rocks, in tombs, and in pits. 7 Also many people went over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 He waited seven days for the appointed time which Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people scattered away from him. 9 So Saul said, ‘Bring here to me the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings.’ He offered the burnt-offering. 10 Just as he had finished offering the burnt-offering, Samuel came, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ And Saul said, ‘Because I saw that the people were scattering away from me and you did not come within the appointed time, and the Philistines were gathering together at Michmash, 12 I said, “Now the Philistines will come down to me at Gilgal, and I will not have appeased the Lord.” So I felt compelled to offer the burnt-offering.’ 13 Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have acted foolishly. If you had kept the command of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, then would the Lord have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him a leader over his people, because you have not kept that which the Lord commanded you.’ 15 Then Samuel arose and left Gilgal. The rest of the people followed Saul, going from Gilgal towards Gibeah of Benjamin.

Saul counted the people who were with him, about six hundred men. 16 Saul and Jonathan his son, together with the people who were with them, were staying in Gibeah of Benjamin, while the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 Raiding parties came out of the camp of the Philistines in three divisions: one division turned in the direction of Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18 and another division turned in the direction of Beth-horon, and another division turned in the direction of the hill that looks down over the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, ‘The Hebrews must not make swords or spears,’ 20 so all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen each his plowshare and his sickle and his ax and his mattock. 21 The charge was two thirds of a shekel for ploughshares and mattocks, and one third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and setting the ox goads. 22 So on the day of the battle, none of the people with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear; but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.

23 A garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass of Michmash, 14 and one day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armour, ‘Come – let’s go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree at Mignon, and with him were about six hundred men. 3 Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord at Shiloh, was in charge of an ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4 Between the passes by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 One crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

6 Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armour, ‘Come, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised Philistines. Perhaps the Lord will act for us, for there is nothing that can prevent the Lord from saving by many or by few.’ 7 His armour-bearer said to him, ‘Do whatever your judgment dictates. I am with you, your wish is mine.’ 8 Then Jonathan said, ‘We will pass over to the men and show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, “Stand still until we can reach you,” then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, “Come up to us,” then we will go up; for the Lord has given them into our hand, and this will be the sign to us.’ 11 When both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, ‘There are Hebrews coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.’ 12 The men of the garrison cried out to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, ‘Come up to us so that we can tell you something.’ Then Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, ‘Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.’ 13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armour-bearer after him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer kept despatching them after him. 14 In the first attack Jonathan and his armour-bearer slew about twenty men in an area of about half an acre. 15 There was panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison, and even the raiders trembled and the earth quaked so that it produced a great panic.

16 The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and saw the army surging hither and thither. 17 Saul said to the people who were with him, ‘Investigate now and see who is gone from us.’ When they had investigated they found that Jonathan and his armour-bearer were not there. 18 And Saul said to Ahijah, ‘Bring the ephod here,’ for at that time he had charge of the ephod before Israel. 19 While Saul was speaking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines kept on increasing. So Saul said to the priest, ‘Draw back your hand.’ 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him responded to the call, and came to the battle, and every man’s sword was turned upon his fellow and there was very great confusion. 21 The Hebrews who had gone over to the Philistines and joined their the camp, turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise all the Israelites who were in hiding in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines were fleeing, pursued close after them in the battle. 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed on beyond Beth-aven.

24 Then Saul committed a great act of folly that day, for he laid an oath on the people, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening and until I avenge myself on my enemies.’ So none of the people tasted food. 25 Now there was honeycomb in that country, 26 and when the people came to the honeycomb, the bees had just flown away, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard when his father charged the people. He put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were lightened. 28 Then one of the fighters spoke up, ‘Your father charged the people saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food this day.” So the men are exhausted.’ 29 Then said Jonathan, ‘My father has brought disaster on the land. See how I have been refreshed, because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 If only the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found, how much greater would have been the slaughter of the Philistines!’

31 But they struck at the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, and the people were very faint, 32 and they rushed upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground, and the people ate them with the blood. 33 When Saul was told that the people were sinning against the Lord in eating with the blood, he said to those who told him, ‘Treason! Roll a great stone to me.’ 34 And Saul said, ‘Go out among the people and say to them, “Let each man bring to me his ox and his sheep, and slay it here and eat; but do not sin against the Lord in eating the flesh together with the blood.” ’ All the people brought their oxen that night and slew them there. 35 So Saul built an altar to the Lord. That was the first altar that he built to the Lord.

36 Then Saul said, ‘Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder among them until daybreak, and let us not spare a single man.’ They said, ‘Do whatever you think best,’ but the priest said, ‘Let us first consut God.’ 37 So Saul asked of God, ‘Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?’ But there was no answer that day. 38 And Saul said, ‘Come here, all you chiefs of the people and know and see in whom is this guilt today. 39 For as the Lord lives, who delivered Israel, even if it be in Jonathan my son, that man will surely die.’ But no one of all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, ‘You will on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.’ The people said to Saul, ‘Do what seems good to you.’ 41 Therefore Saul asked the Lord, God of Israel, ‘Why have you not answered your servant this day? If the guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, the Lord, God of Israel, give Urim, but if the guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.’ And the lot indicated Jonathan and Saul, and the people were cleared. 42 And Saul said, ‘Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son. He whom the Lord indicates, must die.’ The people said to Saul, ‘It must not be so!’ But Saul overruled the people and they cast the lot between him and Jonathan his son. And Jonathan was indicated.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’ And Jonathan told him, saying, ‘I did indeed taste a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand, and here I am! I am ready to die.’ 44 And Saul said, ‘May God do to me whatever he pleases, you must surely die, Jonathan!’ 45 But the people said to Saul, ‘Should Jonathan die who has wrought this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.’ So the people redeemed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul broke off from pursuing the Philistines and the Philistines went to their own country.

47 When Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab and the Ammonites and Edom and the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned he was victorious. 48 He did mighty deeds and struck the Amalekites and delivered Israel out of the hands of its plunderers.

49 Now the sons of Saul were: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were: the eldest, Merab, the youngest, Michal. 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner the son Saul’s uncle Ner. 51 Kish the father of Saul and Ner the father of Abner were sons of Abiel.

52 The war against the Philistines was severe all the days of Saul. Whenever Saul saw any valiant or efficient man, he would take him into his service.

15 Samuel said to Saul, ‘The Lord sent me to anoint you to be king over his people Israel. Now listen to the words of the Lord. 2 This says the Lord of armies: “I have determined to punish the Amalekites for wha they did to Israel, in opposing them as they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have. Spare no one but slay both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” ’

4 So Saul summoned the people and mustered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand from Judah. 5 When Saul came to the city of Amalek, he lay in wait in the valley. 6 Saul said to the Kenites, ‘Go away, withdraw from among the Amalekites, or I will destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt.’ So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul struck the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag the king of Amalek alive and completely destroyed all the people with the sword. 9 But Saul and his army spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fat beasts, the lambs, and all that was good, and would not completely destroy them. But everything that was worthless and despised they completely destroyed.

10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel saying, 11 ‘I repent of making Saul king, because he has turned from following me and has not carried out my commands.’ And Samuel was angry and cried to the Lord all night. 12 Early in the morning Samuel rose to meet Saul. Then Samuel was told, ‘Saul came to Carmel and has just set up a monument to himself and has turned and passed on and gone down to Gilgal.’ 13 When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said to him, ‘Blessed be you of the Lord! I have fulfilled the command of the Lord.’ 14 And Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the cattle which I hear?’ 15 And Saul said, ‘They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best off the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have completely destroyed.’ 16 Then Samuel said to ‘Saul, Stop! and let me tell you what the Lord has said to me this night.’ He said to him, ‘Speak.’

17 Samuel said, ‘Though you are little in your own sight, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel, 18 and the Lord sent you on an expedition and said, “Go, and completely destroy the sinners of Amalek and fight against them until they are consumed.” 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord and why did you swoop upon the spoil and displease the Lord?’ 20 And Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone on the expedition which the Lord sent me on and have brought back Agag the king of the Amalekites and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which were placed under the ban, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.’ 22 And Samuel said, ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as bad as the sin of divination, and obstinacy as idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you from being king.’ 24 And Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the command of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25 Now therefore pardon for my sin and turn back with me, that I may worship the Lord.’ 26 But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not turn back with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.’ 27 As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, but it tore. 28 Then Samuel said to him, ‘The Lord has today torn the kingdom of Israel from you and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 29 Moreover the Glory of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a mortal that he should change his mind.’ 30 Then Saul said, ‘I have sinned, yet honour me now at least before the elders of my people and before Israel, and turn back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.’ 31 So Samuel turned back and followed Saul, while Saul worshipped the Lord.

32 Then Samuel said, ‘Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.’ And Agag came to him trembling and said, ‘Surely death is bitter.’ 33 Samuel said, ‘As your sword has bereaved women, so will your mother be the most bereaved of women.’ Then Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, for Samuel grieved over Saul. Now the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.