OTHERWISE CALLED THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS (Old Listing)

This and the following Book are called by the Hebrews the books of
Samuel, because they contain the history of Samuel, and of the two
kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. They are more commonly named by
the Fathers, the first and second book of kings. As to the writer of
them, it is the common opinion that Samuel composed the first book, as
far as the twenty-fifth chapter; and that the prophets Nathan and Gad
finished the first, and wrote the second book. See 1 Paralipomenon,
alias 1 Chronicles, 29.29.


1 Kings Chapter 1

Anna the wife of Elcana being barren, by vow and prayer obtaineth a son:
whom she calleth Samuel: and presenteth him to the service of God in
Silo, according to her vow:

1:1. There was a man of Ramathaimsophim, of Mount Ephraim, and his name
was Elcana, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliu, the son of Thohu, the
son of Suph, an Ephraimite:

An Ephraimite... He was of the tribe of Levi, 1. Par. 6.34, but is
called an Ephraimite from dwelling in mount Ephraim.

1:2. And he had two wives, the name of one was Anna, and the name of the
other Phenenna. Phenenna had children: but Anna had no children.

1:3. And this man went up out of his city upon the appointed days, to
adore and to offer sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Silo. And the two
sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were there priests of the Lord.

1:4. Now the day came, and Elcana offered sacrifice, and gave to
Phenenna, his wife, and to all her sons and daughters, portions:

1:5. But to Anna he gave one portion with sorrow, because he loved Anna.
And the Lord had shut up her womb.

1:6. Her rival also afflicted her, and troubled her exceedingly,
insomuch that she upbraided her, that the Lord had shut up her womb:

1:7. And thus she did every year, when the time returned, that they went
up to the temple of the Lord: and thus she provoked her: but Anna wept,
and did not eat.

1:8. Then Elcana, her husband, said to her: Anna, why weepest thou? and
why dost thou not eat? and why dost thou afflict thy heart? Am not I
better to thee than ten children?

1:9. So Anna arose after she had eaten and drunk in Silo: And Heli, the
priest, sitting upon a stool before the door of the temple of the Lord;

1:10. As Anna had her heart full of grief, she prayed to the Lord,
shedding many tears,

1:11. And she made a vow, saying: O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt look
down, and wilt be mindful of me, and not forget thy handmaid, and wilt
give to thy servant a manchild: I will give him to the Lord all the days
of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.

1:12. And it came to pass, as she multiplied prayers before the Lord,
that Heli observed her mouth.

1:13. Now Anna spoke in her heart, and only her lips moved, but her
voice was not heard at all. Heli therefore thought her to be drunk,

1:14. And said to her: How long wilt thou be drunk? digest a little the
wine, of which thou hast taken too much.

1:15. Anna answering, said: Not so, my lord: for I am an exceeding
unhappy woman, and have drunk neither wine nor any strong drink, but I
have poured out my soul before the Lord.

1:16. Count not thy handmaid for one of the daughters of Belial: for out
of the abundance of my sorrow and grief have I spoken till now.

1:17. Then Heli said to her: Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant
thee thy petition, which thou hast asked of him.

1:18. And she said: Would to God thy handmaid may find grace in thy
eyes. So the woman went on her way, and ate, and her countenance was no
more changed.

1:19. And they rose in the morning, and worshipped before the Lord: and
they returned, and came into their house at Ramatha. And Elcana knew
Anna his wife: And the Lord remembered her.

1:20. And it came to pass when the time was come about, Anna conceived
and bore a son, and called his name Samuel: because she had asked him of
the Lord.

Samuel... This name imports, asked of God.

1:21. And Elcana, her husband, went up, and all his house, to offer to
the Lord the solemn sacrifice, and his vow.

1:22. But Anna went not up: for she said to her husband: I will not go
till the child be weaned, and till I may carry him, that he may appear
before the Lord, and may abide always there.

1:23. And Elcana, her husband, said to her: Do what seemeth good to
thee, and stay till thou wean him: and I pray that the Lord may fulfil
his word. So the woman staid at home, and gave her son suck, till she
weaned him.

1:24. And after she had weaned him, she carried him with her, with three
calves, and three bushels of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she
brought him to the house of the Lord in Silo. Now the child was as yet
very young:

1:25. And they immolated a calf, and offered the child to Heli.

1:26. And Anna said: I beseech thee, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my
lord: I am that woman, who stood before thee here praying to the Lord.

1:27. For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my
petition, which I asked of him.

1:28. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord all the days of his
life, he shall be lent to the Lord. And they adored the Lord there. And
Anna prayed, and said:

1 Kings Chapter 2

The canticle of Anna. The wickedness of the sons of Heli: for which they
are not duly corrected by their father. A prophecy against the house of
Heli.

2:1. My heart hath rejoiced in the Lord, and my horn is exalted in my
God: my mouth is enlarged over my enemies: because I have joyed in thy
salvation.

My horn... The horn in the scriptures signifies strength, power, the
horn is said to be exalted, when a person receives an increase of
strength or glory.

2:2. There is none holy as the Lord is: for there is no other beside
thee, and there is none strong like our God.

2:3. Do not multiply to speak lofty things, boasting: let old matters
depart from your mouth: for the Lord is a God of all knowledge, and to
him are thoughts prepared.

2:4. The bow of the mighty is overcome, and the weak are girt with
strength.

2:5. They that were full before, have hired out themselves for bread:
and the hungry are filled, so that the barren hath borne many: and she
that had many children is weakened.

2:6. The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to hell, and
bringeth back again.

2:7. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich, he humbleth and he exalteth:

2:8. He raiseth up the needy from the dust, and lifteth up the poor from
the dunghill: that he may sit with princes, and hold the throne of
glory. For the poles of the earth are the Lord's, and upon them he hath
set the world.

2:9. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent
in darkness; because no man shall prevail by his own strength.

2:10. The adversaries of the Lord shall fear him: and upon them shall he
thunder in the heavens: The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, and
he shall give empire to his king, and shall exalt the horn of his
Christ.

2:11. And Elcana went to Ramatha, to his house: but the child ministered
in the sight of the Lord before the face of Heli the priest.

2:12. Now the sons of Heli were children of Belial, not knowing the
Lord,

2:13. Nor the office of the priests to the people: but whosoever had
offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest came, while the flesh was
in boiling, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand,

2:14. And thrust it into the kettle, or into the cauldron, or into the
pot, or into the pan: and all that the fleshhook brought up, the priest
took to himself. Thus did they to all Israel that came to Silo.

2:15. Also before they burnt the fat, the servant of the priest came,
and said to the man that sacrificed: Give me flesh to boil for the
priest: for I will not take of thee sodden flesh, but raw.

2:16. And he that sacrificed said to him: Let the fat first be burnt to
day, according to the custom, and then take to thee as much as thy soul
desireth. But he answered, and said to him: Not so: but thou shalt give
it me now, or else I will take it by force.

2:17. Wherefore the sin of the young men was exceeding great before the
Lord: because they withdrew men from the sacrifice of the Lord.

2:18. But Samuel ministered before the face of the Lord: being a child
girded with a linen ephod.

2:19. And his mother made him a little coat, which she brought to him on
the appointed days, when she went up with her husband, to offer the
solemn sacrifice.

2:20. And Heli blessed Elcana and his wife: and he said to him: The Lord
give thee seed of this woman, for the loan thou hast lent to the Lord.
And they went to their own home.

2:21. And the Lord visited Anna, and she conceived, and bore three sons,
and two daughters: and the child Samuel became great before the Lord.

2:22. Now Heli was very old, and he heard all that his sons did to all
Israel: and how they lay with the women that waited at the door of the
tabernacle:

2:23. And he said to them: Why do ye these kinds of things, which I
hear, very wicked things, from all the people?

2:24. Do not so, my sons: for it is no good report that I hear, that you
make the people of the Lord to transgress.

2:25. If one man shall sin against another, God may be appeased in his
behalf: but if a man shall sin against the Lord, who shall pray for him?
And they hearkened not to the voice of their father, because the Lord
would slay them.

Who shall pray for him... By this word Heli would have his sons
understand, that by their wicked abuse of sacred things, and of the very
sacrifices which were appointed to appease the Lord, they deprived
themselves of the ordinary means of reconciliation with God; which was
by sacrifices. The more, because they were the chief priests whose
business it was to intercede for all others, they had no other to offer
sacrifices and to make atonement for them. Ibid. Because the Lord would
slay them... In consequence of their manifold sacrileges, he would not
soften their hearts with his efficacious grace, but was determined to
destroy them.

2:26. But the child Samuel advanced, and grew on, and pleased both the
Lord and men.

2:27. And there came a man of God to Heli, and said to him: Thus saith
the Lord: Did I not plainly appear to thy father's house, when they were
in Egypt in the house of Pharao?

2:28. And I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest,
to go up to my altar, and burn incense to me, and to wear the ephod
before me: and I gave to thy father's house of all the sacrifices of the
children of Israel.

2:29. Why have you kicked away my victims, and my gifts which I
commanded to be offered in the temple: and thou hast rather honoured thy
sons than me, to eat the firstfruits of every sacrifice of my people
Israel?

2:30. Wherefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: I said indeed
that thy house, and the house of thy father, should minister in my
sight, for ever. But now saith the Lord: Far be this from me: but
whosoever shall glorify me, him will I glorify: but they that despise
me, shall be despised.

2:31. Behold the days come: and I will cut off thy arm, and the arm of
thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house.

2:32. And thou shalt see thy rival in the temple, in all the prosperity
of Israel, and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.

Thy rival... A priest of another race. This was partly fulfilled, when
Abiathar, of the race of Heli, was removed from the priesthood, and
Sadoc, who was of another line, was substituted in his place. But it was
more fully accomplished in the New Testament, when the priesthood of
Aaron gave place to that of Christ.

2:33. However, I will not altogether take away a man of thee from my
altar: but that thy eyes may faint, and thy soul be spent: and a great
part of thy house shall die, when they come to man's estate.

2:34. And this shall be a sign to thee, that shall come upon thy two
sons, Ophni and Phinees: in one day they shall both of them die.

2:35. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, who shall do according
to my heart, and my soul and I will build him a faithful house, and he
shall walk all days before my anointed.

2:36. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall remain in thy
house shall come that he may be prayed for, and shall offer a piece of
silver, and a roll of bread, and shall say: Put me, I beseech thee, to
somewhat of the priestly office, that I may eat a morsel of bread.

1 Kings Chapter 3

Samuel is four times called by the Lord: who revealeth to him the evil
that shall fall on Heli, and his house.

3:1. Now the child Samuel ministered to the Lord before Heli, and the
word of the Lord was precious in those days, there was no manifest
vision.

Precious... That is, rare.

3:2. And it came to pass one day when Heli lay in his place, and his
eyes were grown dim, that he could not see:

3:3. Before the lamp of God went out, Samuel slept in the temple of the
Lord, where the ark of God was.

3:4. And the Lord called Samuel. And he answered: Here am I.

3:5. And he ran to Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. He
said: I did not call: go back and sleep. And he went and slept.

3:6. And the Lord called Samuel again. And Samuel arose and went to
Heli, and said: Here am I: for thou calledst me. He answered: I did not
call thee, my son: return and sleep.

3:7. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither had the word of the
Lord been revealed to him.

3:8. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose up
and went to Heli,

3:9. And said: Here am I: for thou didst call me. Then Heli understood
that the Lord called the child, and he said to Samuel: Go, and sleep:
and if he shall call thee any more, thou shalt say: Speak, Lord, for thy
servant heareth. So Samuel went, and slept in his place.

3:10. And the Lord came, and stood, and he called, as he had called the
other times, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak, Lord, for thy
servant heareth.

3:11. And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and
whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.

3:12. In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have
spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.

3:13. For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for
ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did
not chastise them.

3:14. Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of
his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.

3:15. And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house
of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli.

3:16. Then Heli called Samuel, and said: Samuel, my son. And he
answered: Here am I.

3:17. And he asked him: What is the word that the Lord hath spoken to
thee? I beseech thee hide it not from me. May God do so and so to thee,
and add so and so, if thou hide from me one word of all that were said
to thee.

3:18. So Samuel told him all the words, and did not hide them from him.
And he answered: It is the Lord: let him do what is good in his sight.

3:19. And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his
words fell to the ground.

3:20. And all Israel, from Dan to Bersabee, knew that Samuel was a
faithful prophet of the Lord.

3:21. And the Lord again appeared in Silo, for the Lord revealed himself
to Samuel in Silo, according to the word of the Lord. And the word of
Samuel came to pass to all Israel.

1 Kings Chapter 4

The Israelites being overcome by the Philistines, send for the ark of
God: but they are beaten again, the sons of Heli are killed, and the ark
taken: upon the hearing of the news Heli falleth backward and dieth.

4:1. And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered
themselves together to fight: and Israel went out to war against the
Philistines, and camped by the Stone of help. And the Philistines came
to Aphec,

The Stone of help... In Hebrew Eben-ezer; so called from the help which
the Lord was pleased afterwards to give to his people Israel in that
place, by the prayers of Samuel, chap. 7.12.

4:2. And put their army in array against Israel. And when they had
joined battle, Israel turned their backs to the Philistines: and there
were slain in that fight, here and there in the fields, about four
thousand men.

4:3. And the people returned to the camp: and the ancients of Israel
said: Why hath the Lord defeated us to day before the Philistines? Let
us fetch unto us the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Silo, and let
it come in the midst of us, that it may save us from the hand of our
enemies.

4:4. So the people sent to Silo, and they brought from thence the ark of
the covenant of the Lord of hosts, sitting upon the cherubims: and the
two sons of Heli, Ophni and Phinees, were with the ark of the covenant
of God.

4:5. And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord was come into the
camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, and the earth rang again.

4:6. And the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, and they said:
What is this noise of a great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they
understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.

4:7. And the Philistines were afraid, saying: God is come into the camp.
And sighing, they said:

4:8. Woe to us: for there was no such great joy yesterday, and the day
before: Woe to us. Who shall deliver us from the hand of these high
Gods? these are the Gods that struck Egypt with all the plagues in the
desert.

4:9. Take courage, and behave like men, ye Philistines: lest you come to
be servants to the Hebrews, as they have served you: take courage and
fight.

4:10. So the Philistines fought, and Israel was overthrown, and every
man fled to his own dwelling: and there was an exceeding great
slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

4:11. And the ark of God was taken: and the two sons of Heli, Ophni and
Phinees, were slain.

4:12. And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Silo
the same day, with his clothes rent, and his head strewed with dust.

4:13. And when he was come, Heli sat upon a stool over against the way,
watching. For his heart was fearful for the ark of God. And when the man
was come into the city, he told it: and all the city cried out.

4:14. And Heli heard the noise of the cry, and he said: What meaneth the
noise of this uproar? But he made haste, and came, and told Heli.

4:15. Now Heli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim,
and he could not see.

4:16. And he said to Heli: I am he that came from the battle, and have
fled out of the field this day. And he said to him: What is there done,
my son?

4:17. And he that brought the news answered, and said: Israel is fled
before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter of the
people: moreover thy two sons, Ophni and Phinees, are dead: and the ark
of God is taken.

4:18. And when he had named the ark of God, he fell from his stool
backwards by the door, and broke his neck and died. For he was an old
man, and far advanced in years: And he judged Israel forty years.

Named the ark, etc... There is great reason, by all these circumstances,
to hope that Heli died in a state of grace; and by his temporal
punishments escaped the eternal.

4:19. And his daughter in law, the wife of Phinees, was big with child,
and near her time: and hearing the news that the ark of God was taken,
and her father in law, and her husband, were dead, she bowed herself and
fell in labour: for her pains came upon her on a sudden.

4:20. And when she was upon the point of death, they that stood about
her said to her: Fear not, for thou hast borne a son. She answered them
not, nor gave heed to them.

4:21. And she called the child Ichabod, saying: The glory is gone from
Israel, because the ark of God was taken, and for her father in law, and
for her husband:

Ichabod... That is, Where is the glory? or, there is no glory. We see
how much the Israelites lamented the loss of the ark, which was but the
symbol of God's presence among them. How much more ought Christians to
lament the loss of God himself, when by sin they have driven him out of
their souls.

4:22. And she said: The glory is departed from Israel, because the ark
of God was taken.

1 Kings Chapter 5

Dagon twice falleth down before the ark. The Philistines are grievously
afflicted, wherever the ark cometh.

5:1. And the Philistines took the ark of God, and carried it from the
Stone of help into Azotus.

5:2. And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the
temple of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

5:3. And when the Azotians arose early the next day, behold Dagon lay
upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord: and they took
Dagon, and set him again in his place.

5:4. And the next day again, when they rose in the morning, they found
Dagon lying upon his face on the earth before the ark of the Lord: and
the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands, were cut off upon
the threshold:

5:5. And only the stump of Dagon remained in its place. For this cause
neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that go into the temple, tread on
the threshold of Dagon in Azotus unto this day.

5:6. And the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Azotians, and he
destroyed them, and afflicted Azotus and the coasts thereof with
emerods. And in the villages and fields in the midst of that country,
there came forth a multitude of mice, and there was the confusion of a
great mortality in the city.

5:7. And the men of Azotus seeing this kind of plague, said: The ark of
the God of Israel shall not stay with us: for his hand is heavy upon us,
and upon Dagon, our god.

5:8. And sending, they gathered together all the lords of the
Philistines to them, and said: What shall we do with the ark of the God
of Israel? And the Gethites answered: Let the ark of the God of Israel
be carried about. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about.

5:9. And while they were carrying it about, the hand of the Lord came
upon every city with an exceeding great slaughter: and he smote the men
of every city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their
secret parts. And the Gethites consulted together, and made themselves
seats of skins.

5:10. Therefore they sent the ark of God into Accaron. And when the ark
of God was come into Accaron, the Accaronites cried out, saying: They
have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our
people.

5:11. They sent therefore, and gathered together all the lords of the
Philistines: and they said: Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and
let it return into its own place, and not kill us and our people.

5:12. For there was the fear of death in every city, and the hand of God
was exceeding heavy. The men also that did not die, were afflicted with
the emerods: and the cry of every city went up to heaven.

1 Kings Chapter 6

The ark is sent back to Bethsames: where many are slain for looking
through curiosity into it.

6:1. Now the ark of God was in the land of the Philistines seven months.

6:2. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,
saying: What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? tell us how we are to
send it back to its place. And they said:

6:3. If you send back the ark of the God of Israel, send it not away
empty, but render unto him what you owe for sin, and then you shall be
healed: and you shall know why his hand departeth not from you.

6:4. They answered: What is it we ought to render unto him for sin? and
they answered:

6:5. According to the number of the provinces of the Philistines you
shall make five golden emerods, and five golden mice: for the same
plague hath been upon you all, and upon your lords. And you shall make
the likeness of your emerods, and the likeness of the mice, that have
destroyed the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: to
see if he will take off his hand from you, and from your gods, and from
your land.

6:6. Why do you harden your hearts, as Egypt and Pharao hardened their
hearts? did not he, after he was struck, then let them go, and they
departed?

6:7. Now, therefore, take and make a new cart: and two kine that have
calved, on which there hath come no yoke, tie to the cart, and shut up
their calves at home.

6:8. And you shall take the ark of the Lord, and lay it on the cart, and
the vessels of gold, which you have paid him for sin, you shall put into
a little box at the side thereof: and send it away, that it may go.

6:9. And you shall look: and if it go up by the way of his own coasts,
towards Bethsames, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, we
shall know that it is not his hand hath touched us, but it hath happened
by chance.

6:10. They did therefore in this manner: and taking two kine, that had
sucking calves, they yoked them to the cart, and shut up their calves at
home.

6:11. And they laid the ark of God upon the cart, and the little box
that had in it the golden mice, and the likeness of the emerods.

6:12. And the kine took the straight way, that leadeth to Bethsames, and
they went along the way, lowing as they went: and turned not aside
neither to the right hand nor to the left: and the lords of the
Philistines followed them as far as the borders of Bethsames.

6:13. Now the Bethsamites were reaping wheat in the valley: and lifting
up their eyes, they saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

6:14. And the cart came into the field of Josue, a Bethsamite, and stood
there. And there was a great stone, and they cut in pieces the wood of
the cart, and laid the kine upon it a holocaust to the Lord.

6:15. And the Levites took down the ark of God, and the little box that
was at the side of it, wherein were the vessels of gold, and they put
them upon the great stone. The men also of Bethsames offered holocausts,
and sacrificed victims that day to the Lord.

6:16. And the five princes of the Philistines saw, and they returned to
Accaron the same day.

6:17. And these are the golden emerods, which the Philistines returned
for sin to the Lord: For Azotus one, for Gaza one, for Ascalon one, for
Geth one, for Accaron one:

6:18. And the golden mice, according to the number of the cities of the
Philistines, of the five provinces, from the fenced city to the village
that was without wall, and to the great Abel (the stone) whereon they
set down the ark of the Lord, which was till that day in the field of
Josue the Bethsamite.

6:19. But he slew of the men of Bethsames, because they had seen the ark
of the Lord, and he slew of the people seventy men, and fifty thousand
of the common people. And the people lamented, because the Lord had
smitten the people with a great slaughter.

Seen... And curiously looked into. It is likely this plague reached to
all the neighbouring country, as well as the city of Bethsames.

6:20. And the men of Bethsames said: Who shall be able to stand before
the Lord this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

6:21. And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Cariathiarim,
saying: The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord, come ye
down and fetch it up to you.

1 Kings Chapter 7

The ark is brought to Cariathiarim. By Samuel's exhortation the people
cast away their idols and serve God alone. The Lord defeateth the
Philistines, while Samuel offereth sacrifice.

7:1. And the men of Cariathiarim came, and fetched up the ark of the
Lord, and carried it into the house of Abinadab, in Gabaa: and they
sanctified Eleazar, his son, to keep the ark of the Lord.

In Gabaa... That is, on the hill, for Gabaa signifieth a hill.

7:2. And it came to pass, that from the day the ark of the Lord abode in
Cariathiarim, days were multiplied (for it was now the twentieth year)
and all the house of Israel rested, following the Lord.

7:3. And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying: If you turn to
the Lord with all your heart, put away the strange gods from among you,
Baalim and Astaroth: and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve
him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

7:4. Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Astaroth, and
served the Lord only.

7:5. And Samuel said: Gather all Israel to Masphath, that I may pray to
the Lord for you.

7:6. And they gathered together to Masphath, and they drew water, and
poured it out before the Lord, and they fasted on that day, and they
said there: We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the
children of Israel in Masphath.

7:7. And the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered
together to Masphath, and the lords of the Philistines went up against
Israel. And when the children of Israel heard this, they were afraid of
the Philistines.

7:8. And they said to Samuel: Cease not to cry to the Lord our God for
us, that he may save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

7:9. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it whole for a
holocaust to the Lord: and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the
Lord heard him.

7:10. And it came to pass, when Samuel was offering the holocaust, the
Philistines began the battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with
a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and terrified them,
and they were overthrown before the face of Israel.

7:11. And the men of Israel going out of Masphath, pursued after the
Philistines, and made slaughter of them till they came under Bethchar.

7:12. And Samuel took a stone, and laid it between Masphath and Sen: and
he called the place The stone of help. And he said: Thus far the Lord
hath helped us.

7:13. And the Philistines were humbled, and they did not come any more
into the borders of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the
Philistines, all the days of Samuel.

7:14. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were
restored to Israel, from Accaron to Geth, and their borders: and he
delivered Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and there was peace
between Israel and the Amorrhites.

7:15. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life:

7:16. And he went every year about to Bethel and to Galgal and to
Masphath, and he judged Israel in the foresaid places.

7:17. And he returned to Ramatha: for there was his house, and there he
judged Israel: he built also there an altar to the Lord.

1 Kings Chapter 8

Samuel growing old, and his sons not walking in his ways, the people
desire a king.

8:1. And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his
sons to be judges over Israel.

8:2. Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the
second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

8:3. And his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after
lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

8:4. Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled came to Samuel to
Ramatha.

8:5. And they said to him: Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in
thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have.

8:6. And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they
should say: Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

8:7. And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to the voice of the people in
all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, that
I should not reign over them.

Rejected, etc... The government of Israel hitherto had been a theocracy,
in which God himself immediately ruled, by laws which he had enacted,
and by judges extraordinarily raised up by himself; and therefore he
complains that his people rejected him, in desiring a change of
government.

8:8. According to all their works, they have done from the day that I
brought them out of Egypt until this day: as they have forsaken me, and
served strange gods, so do they also unto thee.

8:9. Now, therefore, hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them,
and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.

The right... That is, the manner (misphat) after which he shall proceed,
having no one to control him, when he has the power in his hand.

8:10. Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had
desired a king of him,

8:11. And said: This will be the right of the king that shall reign over
you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make
them his horsemen, and his running footmen, to run before his chariots,

8:12. And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and his
centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make
him arms and chariots.

8:13. Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be
his cooks, and bakers.

8:14. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best
oliveyards, and give them to his servants.

8:15. Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues
of your vineyards, to give to his eunuchs and servants.

8:16. Your servants also, and handmaids, and your goodliest young men,
and your asses, he will take away, and put them to his work.

8:17. Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants.

8:18. And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom
you have chosen to yourselves: and the Lord will not hear you in that
day, because you desired unto yourselves a king.

8:19. But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said,
Nay: but there shall be a king over us,

8:20. And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us,
and go out before us, and fight our battles for us.

8:21. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them
in the ears of the Lord.

8:22. And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to their voice, and make them
a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to his
city.

1 Kings Chapter 9

Saul seeking his father's asses, cometh to Samuel, by whom he is
entertained.

9:1. Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Cis, the son of
Abiel, the son of Seror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphia, the son
of a man of Jemini, valiant and strong.

9:2. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and goodly man, and
there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he:
from his shoulders and upward he appeared above all the people.

9:3. And the asses of Cis, Saul's father, were lost: and Cis said to his
son Saul: Take one of the servants with thee, and arise, go, and seek
the asses. And when they had passed through Mount Ephraim,

9:4. And through the land of Salisa, and had not found them, they passed
also through the land of Salim, and they were not there: and through the
land of Jemini, and found them not.

9:5. And when they were come to the land of Suph, Saul said to the
servant that was with him: Come, let us return, lest perhaps my father
forget the asses, and be concerned for us.

9:6. And he said to him: Behold there is a man of God in this city, a
famous man: all that he saith, cometh certainly to pass. Now, therefore,
let us go thither, perhaps he may tell us of our way, for which we are
come.

9:7. And Saul said to his servant: Behold we will go: but what shall we
carry to the man of God? the bread is spent in our bags: and we have no
present to make to the man of God, nor any thing at all.

9:8. The servant answered Saul again, and said: Behold there is found in
my hand the fourth part of a sicle of silver, let us give it to the man
of God, that he may tell us our way.

9:9. Now in time past in Israel, when a man went to consult God, he
spoke thus: Come, let us go to the seer. For he that is now called a
prophet, in time past was called a seer.

Seer... Because of his seeing by divine light hidden things and things
to come.

9:10. And Saul said to his servant: Thy word is very good, come let us
go. And they went into the city, where the man of God was.

9:11. And when they went up the ascent to the city, they found maids
coming out to draw water, and they said to them: Is the seer here?

9:12. They answered and said to them: He is: behold he is before you,
make haste now: for he came to day into the city, for there is a
sacrifice of the people to day in the high place.

A sacrifice... The law did not allow of sacrifices in any other place,
but at the tabernacle, or temple, in which the ark of the covenant was
kept; but Samuel, by divine dispensation, offered sacrifices in other
places. For which dispensation this reason may be alleged, that the
house of God in Silo, having lost the ark, was now cast off; as a figure
of the reprobation of the Jews, Ps. 77.60, 67. And in Cariathiarim where
the ark was, there was neither tabernacle, nor altar.-Ibid. The high
place... Excelsum. The excelsa, or high places, so often mentioned in
scripture, were places of worship, in which were altars for sacrifice.
These were sometimes employed in the service of the true God, as in the
present case: but more frequently in the service of idols; and were
called excelsa, which is commonly (though perhaps not so accurately)
rendered high places; not because they were always upon hills, for the
very worst of all, which was that of Topheth, or Geennom, (Jer. 19.) was
in a valley; but because of the high altars, and pillars, or monuments,
erected there, on which were set up the idols, or images of their
deities.

9:13. As soon as you come into the city, you shall immediately find him,
before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat
till he come; because he blesseth the victim, and afterwards they eat
that are invited. Now, therefore, go up, for to day you shall find him.

9:14. And they went up into the city. And when they were walking in the
midst of the city, behold Samuel was coming out over against them, to go
up to the high place.

9:15. Now the Lord had revealed to the ear of Samuel the day before Saul
came, saying:

9:16. To morrow about this same hour I will send thee a man of the land
of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be ruler over my people
Israel: and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines:
for I have looked down upon my people, because their cry is come to me.

9:17. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him: Behold the man, of
whom I spoke to thee, this man shall reign over my people.

9:18. And Saul came to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said: Tell
me, I pray thee, where is the house of the seer?

9:19. And Samuel answered Saul, saying: I am the seer; go up before me
to the high place, that you may eat with me to day, and I will let thee
go in the morning: and tell thee all that is in thy heart.

9:20. And as for the asses, which were lost three days ago, be not
solicitous, because they are found. And for whom shall be all the best
things of Israel? Shall they not be for thee and for all thy father's
house?

9:21. And Saul answering, said: Am not I a son of Jemini of the least
tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among all the families of the
tribe of Benjamin? Why then hast thou spoken this word to me?

9:22. Then Samuel taking Saul, and his servant, brought them into the
parlour, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited.
For there were about thirty men.

9:23. And Samuel said to the cook: Bring the portion which I gave thee,
and commanded thee to set it apart by thee.

9:24. And the cook took up the shoulder, and set it before Saul. And
Samuel said: Behold what is left, set it before thee, and eat; because
it was kept of purpose for thee, when I invited the people. And Saul ate
with Samuel that day.

9:25. And they went down from the high place into the town, and he spoke
with Saul upon the top of the house: and he prepared a bed for Saul on
the top of the house and he slept.

9:26. And when they were risen in the morning, and it began now to be
light, Samuel called Saul on the top of the house, saying: Arise, that I
may let thee go. And Saul arose: and they went out both of them: to wit,
he and Samuel.

9:27. And as they were going down in the end of the city, Samuel said to
Saul: Speak to the servant to go before us, and pass on: but stand thou
still a while, that I may tell thee the word of the Lord.

1 Kings Chapter 10

Saul is anointed. He prophesieth, and is changed into another man.
Samuel calleth the people together, to make a king: the lot falleth on
Saul.

10:1. And Samuel took a little vial of oil, and poured it upon his head,
and kissed him, and said: Behold, the Lord hath anointed thee to be
prince over his inheritance, and thou shalt deliver his people out of
the hands of their enemies, that are round about them. And this shall be
a sign unto thee, that God hath anointed thee to be prince.

10:2. When thou shalt depart from me this day, thou shalt find two men
by the sepulchre of Rachel in the borders of Benjamin to the south, and
they shall say to thee: The asses are found which thou wentest to seek:
and thy father, thinking no more of the asses, is concerned for you, and
saith: What shall I do for my son?

10:3. And when thou shalt depart from thence, and go farther on, and
shalt come to the oak of Thabor, there shall meet thee three men going
up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another three loaves
of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine.

Bethel... Where there was at that time an altar of God; it being one of
the places where Samuel judged Israel.

10:4. And they will salute thee, and will give thee two loaves, and thou
shalt take them at their hand.

10:5. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where the garrison
of the Philistines is: and when thou shalt be come there into the city,
thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place,
with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and
they shall be prophesying.

The hill of God... Gabaa, in which there was also at that time, a high
place or altar.-Prophets... These were men whose office it was to sing
hymns and praises to God; for such in holy writ are called prophets, and
their singing praises to God is called prophesying. See 1 Par. alias 1
Chr. 15.22, and 25.1. Now there were in those days colleges, or shcools
for training up these prophets; and it seems there was one of these
schools at this hill of God; and another at Najoth in Ramatha. See 1
Kings 19.20, 21, etc.

10:6. And the Spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt
prophesy with them, and shalt be changed into another man.

10:7. When therefore these signs shall happen to thee, do whatsoever thy
hand shall find, for the Lord is with thee.

10:8. And thou shalt go down before me to Galgal, (for I will come down
to thee), that thou mayst offer an oblation, and sacrifice victims of
peace: seven days shalt thou wait, till I come to thee, and I will shew
thee what thou art to do.

Galgal... Here also by dispensation was an altar of God.

10:9. So when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave unto
him another heart, and all these things came to pass that day.

10:10 And they came to the foresaid hill, and behold a company of
prophets met him: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he
prophesied in the midst of them.

10:11. And all that had known him yesterday and the day before, seeing
tha the was with the prophets, and prophesied, said to each other: What
is this that hath happened to the son of Cis? is Saul also among the
prophets?

10:12. And one answered another, saying: And who is their father?
therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets?

Their father... That is, their teacher, or superior. As much as to say,
Who could bring about such a wonderful change as to make Saul a prophet?

10:13. And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high
place.

10:14. And Saul's uncle said to him, and to his servant: Whither went
you? They answered: To seek the asses: and not finding them, we went to
Samuel.

10:15. And his uncle said to him: Tell me what Samuel said to thee.

10:16. And Saul said to his uncle: He told us that the asses were found.
But of the matter of the kingdom of which Samuel had spoken to him, he
told him not.

10:17. And Samuel called together the people to the Lord in Maspha:

10:18. And he said to the children of Israel: Thus saith the Lord the
God of Israel: I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you from
the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kings who
afflicted you.

10:19. But you this day have rejected your God, who only hath saved you
out of all your evils and your tribulations: and you have said: Nay: but
set a king over us. Now therefore stand before the Lord by your tribes,
and by your families.

10:20. And Samuel brought to him all the tribes of Israel, and the lot
fell on the tribe of Benjamin.

10:21. And he brought the tribe of Benjamin and the kindreds thereof,
and the lot fell upon the kindred of Metri, and it came to Saul, the son
of Cis. They sought him therefore, and he was not found.

10:22. And after this they consulted the Lord whether he would come
thither. And the Lord answered: Behold he is hidden at home.

10:23. And they ran and fetched him thence: and he stood in the midst of
the people, and he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders
and upward.

10:24. And Samuel said to all the people: Surely you see him whom the
Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people. And
all the people cried and said: God save the king.

10:25. And Samuel told the people the law of the kingdom, and wrote it
in a book, and laid it up before the Lord: and Samuel sent away all the
people, every one to his own house.

10:26. Saul also departed to his own house in Gabaa: and there went with
him a part of the army, whose hearts God had touched.

10:27. But the children of Belial said: Shall this fellow be able to
save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents; but he
dissembled as though he heard not.

1 Kings Chapter 11

Saul defeateth the Ammonites, and delivereth Jabes Galaad.

11:1. And it came to pass about a month after this, that Naas, the
Ammonite, came up, and began to fight against Jabes Galaad. And all the
men of Jabes said to Naas: Make a covenant with us, and we will serve
thee.

11:2. And Naas, the Ammonite, answered them: On this condition will I
make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes, and
make you a reproach in all Israel.

11:3. And the ancients of Jabes said to him: Allow us seven days, that
we may send messengers to all the coasts of Israel: and if there be no
one to defend us, we will come out to thee.

11:4. The messengers therefore came to Gabaa of Saul: and they spoke
these words in the hearing of the people: and all the people lifted up
their voices, and wept.

11:5. And behold Saul came, following oxen out of the field, and he
said: What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words
of the men of Jabes.

11:6. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had heard these
words, and his anger was exceedingly kindled.

11:7. And taking both the oxen, he cut them in pieces, and sent them
into all the coasts of Israel, by messengers, saying: Whosoever shall
not come forth, and follow Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his
oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell upon the people, and they went out
as one man.

11:8. And he numbered them in Bezec: and there were of the children of
Israel three hundred thousand: and of the men of Juda thirty thousand.

11:9. And they said to the messengers that came: Thus shall you say to
the men of Jabes Galaad: To morrow, when the sun shall be hot, you shall
have relief. The messengers therefore came, and told the men of Jabes,
and they were glad.

11:10. And they said: In the morning we will come out to you: and you
shall do what you please with us.

11:11. And it came to pass, when the morrow was come, that Saul put the
people in three companies: and he came into the midst of the camp in the
morning watch, and he slew the Ammonites until the day grew hot, and the
rest were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

11:12. And the people said to Samuel: Who is he that said: Shall Saul
reign over us? Bring the men, and we will kill them.

11:13. And Saul said: No man shall be killed this day: because the Lord
this day hath wrought salvation in Israel:

11:14. And Samuel said to the people: Come, and let us go to Galgal, and
let us renew the kingdom there.

11:15. And all the people went to Galgal, and there they made Saul king,
before the Lord in Galgal, and they sacrificed there victims of peace
before the Lord. And there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced
exceedingly.

1 Kings Chapter 12

Samuel's integrity is acknowledged. God sheweth by a sign from heaven
that they had done ill in asking for a king.

12:1. And Samuel said to all Israel: Behold I have hearkened to your
voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.

12:2. And now the king goeth before you: but I am old and greyheaded:
and my sons are with you: having then conversed with you from my youth
until this day, behold here I am.

12:3. Speak of me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whether I
have taken any man's ox, or ass: if I have wronged any man, if I have
oppressed any man, if I have taken a bribe at any man's hand: and I will
despise it this day, and will restore it to you.

12:4. And they said: Thou hast not wronged us, nor oppressed us, nor
taken ought at any man's hand.

12:5. And he said to them: The Lord is witness against you, and his
anointed is witness this day, that you have not found any thing in my
hand. And they said: He is witness.

12:6. And Samuel said to the people: It is the Lord who made Moses and
Aaron, and brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt.

12:7. Now, therefore, stand up, that I may plead in judgment against you
before the Lord, concerning all the kindness of the Lord, which he hath
shewn to you, and to your fathers:

12:8. How Jacob went into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the Lord: and
the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and brought your fathers out of Egypt,
and made them dwell in this place.

12:9. And they forgot the Lord their God, and he delivered them into the
hands of Sisara, captain of the army of Hasor, and into the hands of the
Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought
against them.

12:10 But afterwards they cried to the Lord, and said: We have sinned,
because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Astaroth:
but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

12:11. And the Lord sent Jerobaal, and Badan, and Jephte, and Samuel,
and delivered you from the hand of your enemies round about, and you
dwelt securely.

Jerobaal and Badan... That is, Gedeon and Samson called here Badan or
Bedan, because he was of Dan.

12:12. But seeing that Naas, king of the children of Ammon, was come
against you, you said to me: Nay, but a king shall reign over us:
whereas the Lord your God was your king.

12:13. Now, therefore, your king is here, whom you have chosen and
desired: Behold the Lord hath given you a king.

12:14. If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and hearken to his
voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord: then shall both you, and
the king who reigneth over you, be followers of the Lord your God.

12:15. But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but will
rebel against his words, the hand of the Lord shall be upon you, and
upon your fathers.

12:16. Now then stand, and see this great thing which the Lord will do
in your sight.

12:17. Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call upon the Lord, and he
shall send thunder and rain: and you shall know, and see that you
yourselves have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, in desiring
a king over you.

Wheat harvest... At which time of the year, it never thunders or rains
in those countries.

12:18. And Samuel cried unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and
rain that day.

12:19. And all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. And all
the people said to Samuel: Pray for thy servants to the Lord thy God,
that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask
for a king.

12:20. And Samuel said to the people: Fear not, you have done all this
evil: but yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord
with all your heart.

12:21. And turn not aside after vain things, which shall never profit
you, nor deliver you, because they are vain.

12:22. And the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's
sake: because the Lord hath sworn to make you his people.

12:23. And far from me be this sin against the Lord, that I should cease
to pray for you: and I will teach you the good and right way.

12:24. Therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, and with your
whole heart, for you have seen the great works which he hath done among
you.

12:25. But if you will still do wickedly: both you and your king shall
perish together.

1 Kings Chapter 13

The war between Saul and the Philistines. The distress of the
Israelites. Saul offereth sacrifice before the coming of Samuel: for
which he is reproved.

13:1. Saul was a child of one year when he began to reign, and he
reigned two years over Israel.

Of one year... That is, he was good and like an innocent child, and for
two years continued in that innocency.

13:2. And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel: and two thousand
were with Saul in Machmas, and in mount Bethel: and a thousand with
Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent back
every man to their dwellings.

13:3. And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines which was in
Gabaa. And when the Philistines had heard of it, Saul sounded the
trumpet over all the land, saying: Let the Hebrews hear.

13:4. And all Israel heard this report: Saul hath smitten the garrison
of the Philistines: and Israel took courageagainst the Philistines. And
the people were called together after Saul to Galgal.

13:5. The Philistines also were assembled to fight against Israel,
thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and a multitude of
people besides, like the sand on the seashore for number. And going up
they camped in Machmas, at the east of Bethaven.

13:6. And when the men of Israel saw that they were straitened (for the
people were distressed), they hid themselves in caves, and in thickets,
and in rocks, and in dens, and in pits.

13:7. And some of the Hebrews passed over the Jordan into the land of
Gad and Galaad. And when Saul was yet in Galgal, all the people that
followed him were greatly afraid.

13:8. And he waited seven days, according to the appointment of Samuel,
and Samuel came not to Galgal, and the people slipt away from him.

13:9. Then Saul said: Bring me the holocaust, and the peace offerings.
And he offered the holocaust.

13:10. And when he had made an end of offering the holocaust, behold
Samuel came: and Saul went forth to meet him and salute him.

13:11. And Samuel said to him: What hast thou done? Saul answered:
Because I saw that the people slipt from me, and thou wast not come
according to the days appointed, and the Philistines were gathered
together in Machmas,

13:12. I said: Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Galgal, and
I have not appeased the face of the Lord. Forced by necessity, I offered
the holocaust.

13:13. And Samuel said to Saul: Thou hast done foolishly, and hast not
kept the commandments of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. And
if thou hadst not done thus, the Lord would now have established thy
kingdom over Israel for ever:

13:14. But thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord hath sought him a
man according to his own heart: and him hath the Lord commanded to be
prince over his people, because thou hast not observed that which the
Lord commanded.

13:15. And Samuel arose and went up from Galgal to Gabaa of Benjamin.
And the rest of the people went up after Saul, to meet the people who
fought against them, going from Galgal to Gabaa, in the hill of
Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people, that were found with him, about
six hundred men.

13:16. And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present
with them, were in Gabaa of Benjamin: But the Philistines encamped in
Machmas.

13:17. And there went out of the camp of the Philistines three companies
to plunder. One company went towards the way of Ephra to the land of
Sual;

13:18. And another went by the way of Bethoron, and the third turned to
the way of the border, above the valley of Seboim towards the desert.

13:19. Now there was no smith to be found in all the land of Israel, for
the Philistines had taken this precaution, lest the Hebrews should make
them swords or spears.

13:20. So all Israel went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man
his ploughshare, and his spade, and his axe, and his rake.

13:21. So that their shares, and their spades, and their forks, and
their axes, were blunt, even to the goad, which was to be mended.

13:22. And when the day of battle was come, there was neither sword nor
spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and
Jonathan, except Saul and Jonathan his son.

13:23. And the army of the Philistines went out in order to advance
further in Machmas.

1 Kings Chapter 14

Jonathan attacketh the Philistines. A miraculous victory. Saul's
unadvised oath, by which Jonathan is put in danger of his life, but is
delivered by the people.

14:1. Now it came to pass one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said
to the young man that bore his armour: Come, and let us go over to the
garrison of the Philistines, which is on the other side of yonder place.
But he told not this to his father.

14:2. And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gabaa, under the
pomegranate tree, which was in Magron: and the people with him were
about six hundred men.

14:3. And Achias, the son of Achitob, brother of Ichabod the son of
Phinees, the son of Heli, the priest of the Lord in Silo, wore the
ephod. And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone.

14:4. Now there were between the ascents, by which Jonathan sought to go
over to the garrison of the Philistines, rocks standing up on both
sides, and steep cliffs like teeth on the one side, and on the other,
the name of the one was Boses, and the name of the other was Sene:

14:5. One rock stood out toward the north, over against Machmas, and the
other to the south, over against Gabaa.

14:6. And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour: Come, let
us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised, it may be the Lord
will do for us: because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many,
or by few.

14:7. And his armourbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth thy mind:
go whither thou wilt, and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a
mind.

14:8. And Jonathan said: Behold we will go over to these men. And when
we shall be seen by them,

14:9. If they shall speak thus to us: Stay till we come to you: let us
stand still in our place, and not go up to them.

14:10. But if they shall say: Come up to us: let us go up, because the
Lord hath delivered them into our hands, this shall be a sign unto us.

This shall be a sign... It is likely Jonathan was instructed by divine
inspiration to make a choice of this sign: otherwise the observation of
omens is superstitious and sinful.

14:11. So both of them discovered themselves to the garrison of the
Philistines: and the Philistines said: Behold the Hebrews come forth out
of the holes wherein they were hid.

14:12. And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan, and to his
armourbearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And
Jonathan said to his armourbearer: Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord
hath delivered them into the hands of Israel.

14:13. And Jonathan went up creeping on his hands and feet, and his
armourbearer after him. And some fell before Jonathan, others his
armourbearer slew as he followed him.

14:14. And the first slaughter which Jonathan and his armourbearer made,
was of about twenty men, within half an acre of land, which a yoke of
oxen is wont to plough in a day.

14:15. And there was a miracle in the camp, in the fields: and all the
people of their garrison, who had gone out to plunder, were amazed, and
the earth trembled: and it happened as a miracle from God.

14:16. And the watchmen of Saul, who were in Gabaa of Benjamin looked,
and behold a multitude overthrown, and fleeing this way and that.

14:17. And Saul said to the people that were with him: Look, and see who
is gone from us. And when they had sought, it was found that Jonathan
and his armourbearer were not there.

14:18. And Saul said to Achias: Bring the ark of the Lord. (For the ark
of God was there that day with the children of Israel.)

14:19. And while Saul spoke to the priest, there arose a great uproar in
the camp of the Philistines: and it increased by degrees, and was heard
more clearly. And Saul said to the priest: Draw in thy hand.

14:20. Then Saul, and all the people that were with him, shouted
together, and they came to the place of the fight: and behold every
man's sword was turned upon his neighbour, and there was a very great
slaughter.

14:21. Moreover, the Hebrews that had been with the Philistines
yesterday and the day before, and went up with them into the camp,
returned to be with the Israelites, who were with Saul and Jonathan.

14:22. And all the Israelites that had hid themselves in mount Ephraim,
hearing that the Philistines fled, joined themselves with their
countrymen in the fight. And there were with Saul about ten thousand
men.

14:23. And the Lord saved Israel that day. And the fight went on as far
as Bethaven.

14:24. And the men of Israel were joined together that day: and Saul
adjured the people, saying: Cursed be the man that shall eat food till
evening, till I be revenged of my enemies. So none of the people tasted
any food.

14:25. And all the common people came into a forest, in which there was
honey upon the ground.

14:26. And when the people came into the forest, behold the honey
dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth. For the people feared the
oath.

14:27. But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people:
and he put forth the end of the rod, which he had in his hand, and dipt
it in a honeycomb: and he carried his hand to his mouth, and his eyes
were enlightened.

14:28. And one of the people answering, said: Thy father hath bound the
people with an oath, saying: Cursed be the man that shall eat any food
this day. (And the people were faint.)

14:29. And Jonathan said: My father hath troubled the land: you have
seen yourselves that my eyes are enlightened, because I tasted a little
of this honey:

14:30. How much more if the people had eaten of the prey of their
enemies, which they found? had there not been made a greater slaughter
among the Philistines?

14:31. So they smote that day the Philistines, from Machmas to Aialon.
And the people were wearied exceedingly.

14:32. And falling upon the spoils, they took sheep, and oxen, and
calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people ate them with the
blood.

14:33. And they told Saul that the people had sinned against the Lord,
eating with the blood. And he said: You have transgressed: roll here to
me now a great stone.

14:34. And Saul said: Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell
them to bring me every man his ox and his ram and slay them upon this
stone, and eat, and you shall not sin against the Lord, in eating with
the blood. So all the people brought every man his ox with him till the
night: and slew them there.

14:35. And Saul built an altar to the Lord: and he then first began to
build an altar to the Lord.

14:36. And Saul said: Let us fall upon the Philistines by night, and
destroy them till the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them.
And the people said: Do all that seemeth good in thy eyes. And the
priest said: Let us draw near hither unto God.

14:37. And Saul consulted the Lord: Shall I pursue after the
Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hands of Israel? And he
answered him not that day.

14:38. And Saul said: Bring hither all the corners of the people: and
know, and see by whom this sin hath happened to day.

14:39. As the Lord liveth, who is the Saviour of Israel, if it was done
by Jonathan, my son, he shall surely die. In this none of the people
gainsayed him.

14:40. And he said to all Israel: Be you on one side and I, with
Jonathan, my son, will be on the other side. And the people answered
Saul: Do what seemeth good in thy eyes.

14:41. And Saul said to the Lord: O Lord God of Israel, give a sign, by
which we may know, what the meaning is, that thou answerest not thy
servant to day: If this iniquity be in me, or in my son Jonathan, give a
proof: or if this iniquity be in thy people, give holiness. And Jonathan
and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.

14:42. And Saul said: Cast lots between me, and Jonathan, my son. And
Jonathan was taken.

Jonathan was taken... Though Jonathan was excused from sin, through
ignorance of the prohibition, yet God was pleased on this occasion to
let the lot fall upon him, to shew unto all the great obligation of
obedience to princes and parents.

14:43. And 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, which was in my hand, and behold I must die.

14:44. And Saul said: May God do so and so to me, and add still more:
for dying thou shalt die, O Jonathan.

14:45. And the people said to Saul: Shall Jonathan then die, who hath
wrought this great salvation in Israel? this must not be: 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 delivered Jonathan, that
he should not die.

14:46. And Saul went back, and did not pursue after the Philistines: and
the Philistines went to their own places.

14:47. And Saul having his kingdom established over Israel, fought
against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the
children of Ammon, and Edom, and the kings of Soba, and the Philistines:
and whithersoever he turned himself, he overcame.

14:48. And gathering together an army, he defeated Amalec, and delivered
Israel from the hand of them that spoiled them.

14:49. And the sons of Saul, were Jonathan, and Jessui, and Melchisua:
and the names of his two daughters, the name of the firstborn was Merob,
and the name of the younger Michol.

14:50. And the name of Saul's wife was Achinoam, the daughter of
Achimaas; and the name of the captain of his army was Abner, the son of
Ner, the cousin german of Saul.

14:51. For Cis was the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, was
son of Abiel.

14:52. And there was a great war against the Philistines all the days of
Saul. For whomsoever Saul saw to be a valiant man, and fit for war, he
took him to himself.

1 Kings Chapter 15

Saul is sent to destroy Amalec: he spareth their king and the best of
their cattle: for which disobedience he is cast off by the Lord.

15:1. And Samuel said to Saul: The Lord sent me to anoint thee king over
his people Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the
Lord:

15:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I have reckoned up all that Amalec
hath done to Israel: how he opposed them in the way when they came up
out of Egypt.

15:3. Now therefore go, and smite Amalec, and utterly destroy all that
he hath: spare him not, nor covet anything that is his: but slay both
man and woman, child and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

Child... The great Master of life and death (who cuts off one half of
all mankind whilst they are children) has been pleased sometimes to
ordain that children should be put to the sword, in detestation of the
crimes of their parents, and that they might not live to follow the same
wicked ways. But without such ordinance of God it is not allowable, in
any wars, how just soever, to kill children.

15:4. So Saul commanded the people, and numbered them as lambs: two
hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand of the men of Juda.

15:5. And when Saul was come to the city of Amalec, he laid ambushes in
the torrent.

15:6. And Saul said to the Cinite: Go, depart, and get ye down from
Amalec: lest I destroy thee with him. For thou hast shewn kindness to
all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. And the
Cinite departed from the midst of Amalec.

15:7. And Saul smote Amalec from Hevila, until thou comest to Sur, which
is over against Egypt.

15:8. And he took Agag, the king of Amalec, alive: but all the common
people he slew with the edge of the sword.

15:9. And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the flocks of
sheep, and of the herds, and the garments and the rams, and all that was
beautiful, and would not destroy them: but every thing that was vile,
and good for nothing, that they destroyed.

15:10. And the word of the Lord came to Samuel,

15:11. It repenteth me that I have made Saul king: for he hath forsaken
me, and hath not executed my commandments. And Samuel was grieved, and
he cried unto the Lord all night.

15:12. And when Samuel rose early, to go to Saul in the morning, it was
told Samuel that Saul was come to Carmel, and had erected for himself a
triumphant arch, and returning had passed on, and gone down to Galgal.
And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul was offering a holocaust to the Lord,
out of the choicest of the spoils, which he had brought from Amalec.

15:13. And when Samuel was come to Saul, Saul said to him: Blessed be
thou of the Lord, I have fulfilled the word of the Lord.

15:14. And Samuel said: What meaneth then this bleating of the flocks,
which soundeth in my ears, and the lowing of the herds, which I hear?

15:15. And Saul said: They have brought them from Amalec: for the people
spared the best of the sheep and of the herds, that they might be
sacrificed to the Lord thy God, but the rest we have slain.

15:16. And Samuel said to Saul: Suffer me, and I will tell thee what the
Lord hath said to me this night. And he said to him: Speak.

15:17. And Samuel said: When thou wast a little one in thy own eyes,
wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord
anointed thee to be king over Israel.

15:18. And the Lord sent thee on the way, and said: Go, and kill the
sinners of Amalec, and thou shalt fight against them until thou hast
utterly destroyed them.

15:19. Why then didst thou not hearken to the voice of the Lord: but
hast turned to the prey, and hast done evil in the eyes of the Lord?

15:20. And Saul said to Samuel: Yea, I have hearkened to the voice of
the Lord, and have walked in the way by which the Lord sent me, and have
brought Agag, the king of Amalec, and Amalec I have slain.

15:21. But the people took of the spoils, sheep and oxen, as the
firstfruits of those things that were slain, to offer sacrifice to the
Lord their God in Galgal.

15:22. And Samuel said: Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and
not rather that the voice of the Lord should be obeyed? For obedience is
better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to offer the fat or
rams.

15:23. Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the
crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch, therefore, as thou hast
rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee from
being king.

15:24. And Saul said to Samuel: I have sinned, because I have
transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, fearing the
people, and obeying their voice.

15:25. But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I
may adore the Lord.

15:26. And Samuel said to Saul: I will not return with thee, because
thou hath rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee
from being king over Israel.

15:27. And Samuel turned about to go away: but he laid hold upon the
skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

15:28. And Samuel said to him: The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel
from thee this day, and hath given it to thy neighbour who is better
than thee.

15:29. But the triumpher in Israel will not spare, and will not be moved
to repentance: for he is not a man that he should repent.

15:30. Then he said: I have sinned: yet honour me now before the
ancients of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I may
adore the Lord thy God.

15:31. So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul adored the Lord.

15:32. And Samuel said: Bring hither to me Agag, the king of Amalec. And
Agag was presented to him very fat, and trembling. And Agag said: Doth
bitter death separate in this manner? 15:33. And Samuel said: As thy
sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among
women. And Samuel hewed him in pieces before the Lord in Galgal.

15:34. And Samuel departed to Ramatha: but Saul went up to his house in
Gabaa.

15:35. And Samuel saw Saul no more till the day of his death:
nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul, because the Lord repented that he
had made him king over Israel.

Saw Saul no more till the day of his death... That is, he went no more
to see him: he visited him no more.

1 Kings Chapter 16

Samuel is sent to Bethlehem, where he anointeth David: who is taken into
Saul's family.

16:1. And the Lord said to Samuel: How long wilt thou mourn for Saul,
whom I have rejected from reigning over Israel? fill thy horn with oil,
and come, that I may send thee to Isai, the Bethlehemite: for I have
provided me a king among his sons.

16:2. And Samuel said: How shall I go? for Saul will hear of it, and he
will kill me. And the Lord said: Thou shalt take with thee a calf of the
herd, and thou shalt say: I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.

16:3. And thou shalt call Isai to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee
what thou art to do, and thou shalt anoint him whom I shall shew to
thee.

16:4. Then Samuel did as the Lord had said to him. And he came to
Bethlehem, and the ancients of the city wondered, and meeting him, they
said: Is thy coming hither peaceable?

16:5. And he said: It is peaceable: I am come to offer sacrifice to the
Lord, be ye sanctified, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he
sanctified Isai and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

16:6. And when they were come in, he saw Eliab, and said: Is the Lord's
anointed before him?

16:7. And the Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on
the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge
according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear,
but the Lord beholdeth the heart.

16:8. And Isai called Abinadab, and brought him before Samuel. And he
said: Neither hath the Lord chosen this,

16:9. And Isai brought Samma, and he said of him: Neither hath the Lord
chosen this.

16:10. Isai therefore brought his seven sons before Samuel: and Samuel
said to Isai: The Lord hath not chosen any one of these.

16:11. And Samuel said to Isai: Are here all thy sons? He answered:
There remaineth yet a young one, who keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said
to Isai: Send, and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come
hither.

16:12. He sent therefore and brought him. Now he was ruddy and beautiful
to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, and anoint
him, for this is he.

16:13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst
of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that
day forward: and Samuel rose up, and went to Ramatha.

16:14. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit
from the Lord troubled him.

From the Lord... An evil spirit, by divine permission, and for his
punishment, either possessed or obsessed him.

16:15. And the servants of Saul said to him: Behold now an evil spirit
from God troubleth thee.

16:16. Let our lord give orders, and thy servants who are before thee,
will seek out a man skilful in playing on the harp, that when the evil
spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou
mayst bear it more easily.

16:17. And Saul said to his servants: Provide me then some man that can
play well, and bring him to me.

16:18. And one of the servants answering, said: Behold I have seen a son
of Isai, the Bethlehemite, a skilful player, and one of great strength,
and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person:
and the Lord is with him.

16:19. Then Saul sent messengers to Isai, saying: Send me David, thy
son, who is in the pastures.

16:20. And Isai took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and
a kid of the flock, and sent them by the hand of David, his son, to
Saul.

16:21. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him
exceedingly, and made him his armourbearer.

16:22. And Saul sent to Isai, saying: Let David stand before me: for he
hath found favour in my sight.

16:23. So whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David
took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and was
better, for the evil spirit departed from him.

Departed from him... Chased away by David's devotion.

1 Kings Chapter 17

War with the Philistines. Goliath challengeth Israel. He is slain by
David.

17:1. Now the Philistines gathering together their troops to battle,
assembled at Socho of Juda: and camped between Socho and Azeca, in the
borders of Dommim.

17:2. And Saul and the children of Israel being gathered together, came
to the valley of Terebinth, and they set the army in array to fight
against the Philistines.

17:3. 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.

17:4. And there went out a man baseborn from the camp of the
Philistines, named Goliath, of Geth, whose height was six cubits and a
span:

17:5. And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clothed
with a coat of mail with scales, and the weight of his coat of mail was
five thousand sicles of brass:

17:6. And he had greaves of brass on his legs, and a buckler of brass
covered his shoulders.

17:7. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head
of his spear weighed six hundred sicles of iron: and his armourbearer
went before him.

17:8. And standing, he cried out to the bands of Israel, and said to
them: Why are you come out prepared to fight? am not I a Philistine, and
you the servants of Saul? Choose out a man of you, and let him come down
and fight hand to hand.

17:9. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants
to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be
servants, and shall serve us.

17:10. And the Philistine said: I have defied the bands of Israel this
day: give me a man, and let him fight with me hand to hand.

17:11. And Saul and all the Israelites hearing these words of the
Philistine, were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

17:12. Now David was the son of that Ephrathite, of Bethlehem Juda,
before mentioned, whose name was Isai, who had eight sons, and was an
old man in the days of Saul, and of great age among men.

17:13. And his three eldest sons followed Saul to the battle: and the
names of his three sons that went to the battle, were Eliab, the
firstborn, and the second, Abinadab, and the third Samma:

17:14. But David was the youngest. So the three eldest having followed
Saul,

17:15. David went, and returned from Saul, to feed his father's flock at
Bethlehem.

17:16. Now the Philistine came out morning and evening, and presented
himself forty days.

17:17. And Isai said to David, his son: Take for thy brethren an ephi of
frumenty, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren,

17:18. And carry these ten little cheeses to the tribune: and go see thy
brethren, if they are well: and learn with whom they are placed.

17:19. But Saul, and they, and all the children of Israel, were in the
valley of Terebinth, fighting against the Philistines.

17:20. David, therefore, arose in the morning, and gave the charge of
the flock to the keeper: and went away loaded, as Isai had commanded
him. And he came to the place of Magala, and to the army, which was
going out to fight, and shouted for the battle.

17:21. For Israel had put themselves in array, and the Philistines who
stood against them were prepared.

17:22. And David leaving the vessels which he had brought, under the
care of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the place of the battle, and
asked if all things went well with his brethren.

17:23. And as he talked with them, that baseborn man, whose name was
Goliath, the Philistine, of Geth, shewed himself coming up from the camp
of the Philistines: and he spoke according to the same words, and David
heard them,

17:24. And all the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from his
face, fearing him exceedingly.

17:25. And some one of Israel said: Have you seen this man that is come
up, for he is come up to defy Israel. And the man that shall slay him,
the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter,
and will make his father's house free from tribute in Israel.

17:26. And David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying: What shall
be given to the man that shall kill this Philistine, and shall take away
the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that
he should defy the armies of the living God?

17:27. And the people answered him the same words, saying: These things
shall be given to the man that shall slay him.

17:28. Now when Eliab his eldest brother heard this, when he was
speaking with others, he was angry with David, and said: Why camest thou
hither? and why didst thou leave those few sheep in the desert? I know
thy pride, and the wickedness of thy heart: that thou art come down to
see the battle.

17:29. And David said: What have I done? is there not cause to speak?

17:30. And he turned a little aside from him to another: and said the
same word. And the people answered him as before.

17:31. And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed
before Saul.

17:32. And when he was brought to Saul, he said to him. Let not any
man's heart be dismayed in him: I thy servant will go, and will fight
against the Philistine.

17:33. And Saul said to David: Thou art not able to withstand this
Philistine, nor to fight against him: for thou art but a boy, but he is
a warrior from his youth.

17:34. And David said to Saul: Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and
there came a lion, or a bear, and took a ram out of the midst of the
flock:

17:35. And I pursued after them, and struck them, and delivered it out
of their mouth: and they rose up against me, and I caught them by the
throat, and I strangled, and killed them.

17:36. For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear: and this
uncircumcised Philistine shall be also as one of them. I will go now,
and take away the reproach of the people: for who is this uncircumcised
Philistine, who hath dared to curse the army of the living God?

17:37. And David said: The Lord who delivered me out of the paw of the
lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand
of this Philistine. And Saul said to David: Go, and the Lord be with
thee.

17:38. And Saul clothed David with his garments, and put a helmet of
brass upon his head, and armed him with a coat of mail.

17:39. And David having girded his sword upon his armour, began to try
if he could walk in armour: for he was not accustomed to it. And David
said to Saul: I cannot go thus, for I am not used to it. And he laid
them off,

17:40. And he took his staff, which he had always in his hands: and
chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them into the
shepherd's scrip, which he had with him, and he took a sling in his
hand, and went forth against the Philistine.

17:41. And the Philistine came on, and drew nigh against David, and his
armourbearer went before him.

17:42. And when the Philistine looked, and beheld David, he despised
him. For he was a young man, ruddy, and of a comely countenance.

17:43. And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to
me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

17:44. And he said to David: Come to me, and I will give thy flesh to
the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the earth.

17:45. And David said 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, which thou hast
defied.

17:46. This day, and the Lord will deliver thee into my hand, and I will
slay thee, and take away thy head from thee: and I will give the
carcasses of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the
air, and to the beasts of the earth: that all the earth may know that
there is a God in Israel.

17:47. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with
sword and spear: for it is his battle, and he will deliver you into our
hands.

17:48. And when the Philistine arose, and was coming, and drew nigh to
meet David, David made haste, and ran to the fight to meet the
Philistine.

17:49. And he put his hand into his scrip, and took a stone, and cast it
with the sling, and fetching it about, struck the Philistine in the
forehead, and he fell on his face upon the earth.

17:50. And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a
stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine. And as David had no sword
in his hand,

17:51. He ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and
drew it out of the sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head. And the
Philistines seeing that their champion was dead, fled away.

17:52. And the men of Israel and Juda rising up shouted, and pursued
after the Philistines till they came to the valley and to the gates of
Accaron, and there fell many wounded of the Philistines in the way of
Saraim, and as far as Geth, and as far as Accaron.

17:53. And the children of Israel returning, after they had pursued the
Philistines, fell upon their camp.

17:54. And David taking the head of the Philistine, brought it to
Jerusalem: but his armour he put in his tent.

17:55. Now at the time that Saul saw David going out against the
Philistines, he said to Abner, the captain of the army: Of what family
is this young man descended, Abner? And Abner said: As thy soul liveth,
O king, I know not.

17:56. And the king said: Inquire thou, whose son this young man is.

17:57. And when David was returned, after the Philistine was slain,
Abner took him, and brought him in before Saul, with the head of the
Philistine in his hand.

17:58. And Saul said to him: Young man, of what family art thou? And
David said: I am the son of thy servant Isai the Bethlehemite.

1 Kings Chapter 18

The friendship of Jonathan and David. The envy of Saul, and his design
upon David's life. He marrieth him to his daughter Michol.

18:1. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul,
the son of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved
him as his own soul.

18:2. And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his
father's house.

18:3. And David and Jonathan made a covenant, for he loved him as his
own soul.

18:4. And Jonathan stripped himself of the coat with which he was
clothed, and gave it to David, and the rest of his garments, even to his
sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

18:5. And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he
behaved himself prudently: and Saul set him over the soldiers, and he
was acceptable in the eyes of all the people, and especially in the eyes
of Saul's servants.

18:6. Now when David returned, after he slew the Philistine, the women
came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king
Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets.

18:7. And the women sung as they played, and they said: Saul slew his
thousands, and David his ten thousands.

18:8. And Saul was exceeding angry, and this word was displeasing in his
eyes, and he said: They have given David ten thousands, and to me they
have given but a thousand, what can he have more but the kingdom?

18:9. And Saul did not look on David with a good eye from that day and
forward.

18:10. And the day after, the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and
he prophesied in the midst of his house. And David played with his hand
as at other times. And Saul held a spear in his hand,

Prophesied... Acted the prophet in a mad manner.

18:11. And threw it, thinking to nail David to the wall: and David stept
aside out of his presence twice.

18:12. And Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was
departed from Saul himself.

18:13. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him a captain over
a thousand men, and he went out and came in before the people.

18:14. And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with
him.

18:15. And Saul saw that he was exceeding prudent, and began to beware
of him.

18:16. But all Israel and Juda loved David, for he came in and went out
before them.

18:17. And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will
I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the
Lord. Now Saul said within himself: Let not my hand be upon him, but let
the hands of the Philistines be upon him.

18:18. And David said to Saul: Who am I, or what is my life, or my
father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law of the king?

18:19. And it came to pass at the time when Merob, the daughter of Saul,
should have been given to David, that she was given to Hadriel, the
Molathite, to wife.

18:20. But Michol, the other daughter of Saul, loved David. And it was
told Saul, and it pleased him.

18:21. And Saul said: I will give her to him, that she may be a
stumblingblock to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be upon
him. And Saul said to David: In two things thou shalt be my son in law
this day.

18:22. And Saul commanded his servants to speak to David privately,
saying: Behold, thou pleasest the king, and all his servants love thee.
Now, therefore be the king's son in law.

18:23. And the servants of Saul spoke all these words in the ear of
David. And David said: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the
king's son in law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability.

18:24. And the servants of Saul told him, saying: Such words as these
hath David spoken.

18:25. And Saul said: Speak thus to David: The king desireth not any
dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of
the king's enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of
the Philistines.

18:26. And when his servants had told David the words that Saul had
said, the word was pleasing in the eyes of David to be the king's son in
law.

18:27. And after a few days David rose up, and went with the men that
were under him, and he slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and
brought their foreskins and numbered them out to the king, that he might
be his son in law. Saul therefore gave him Michol, his daughter, to
wife.

18:28. And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David. And
Michol, the daughter of Saul, loved him.

18:29. And Saul began to fear David more: and Saul became David's enemy
continually.

18:30. And the princes of the Philistines went forth: and from the
beginning of their going forth, David behaved himself more wisely than
all the servants of Saul, and his name became very famous.

1 Kings Chapter 19

Other attempts of Saul upon David's life. He cometh to Samuel. Saul's
messengers, and Saul himself prophesy.

19:1. And Saul spoke to Jonathan, his son, and to all his servants, that
they should kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul, loved David
exceedingly.

19:2. And Jonathan told David, saying: Saul, my father, seeketh to kill
thee: wherefore look to thyself, I beseech thee, in the morning and thou
shalt abide in a secret place, and shalt be hid.

19:3. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where
thou art: and I will speak of thee to my father, and whatsoever I shall
see, I will tell thee.

19:4. And Jonathan spoke good things of David to Saul, his father: and
said to him: Sin not, O king, against thy servant, David, because he
hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good towards thee.

19:5. And he put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the
Lord wrought great salvation for all Israel. Thou sawest it and didst
rejoice. Why therefore wilt thou sin against innocent blood, by killing
David, who is without fault?

19:6. And when Saul heard this, he was appeased with the words of
Jonathan, and swore: As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain.

19:7. Then Jonathan called David, and told him all these words: and
Jonathan brought in David to Saul, and he was before him, as he had been
yesterday and the day before.

19:8. And the war began again, and David went out, and fought against
the Philistines, and defeated them with a great slaughter, and they fled
from his face.

19:9. And the evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul; and he sat in
his house, and held a spear in his hand: and David played with his hand.

19:10. And Saul endeavoured to nail David to the wall with his spear.
And David slipt away out of the presence of Saul: and the spear missed
him, and was fastened in the wall, and David fled, and escaped that
night.

19:11. Saul therefore sent his guards to David's house to watch him,
that he might be killed in the morning. And when Michol, David's wife,
had told him this, saying: Unless thou save thyself this night, to
morrow thou wilt die:

19:12. She let him down through a window. And he went and fled away, and
escaped.

19:13. And Michol took an image, and laid it on the bed, and put a
goat's skin, with the hair at the head of it, and covered it with
clothes.

19:14. And Saul sent officers to seize David; and it was answered that
he was sick.

19:15. And again Saul sent to see David, saying: Bring him to me in the
bed, that he may be slain.

19:16. And when the messengers were come in, they found an image upon
the bed, and a goat skin at his head.

19:17. And Saul said to Michol: Why hast thou deceived me so, and let my
enemy go and flee away? And Michol answered Saul: Because he said to me:
Let me go, or else I will kill thee.

19:18. But David fled and escaped, and came to Samuel in Ramatha, and
told him all that Saul had done to him: and he and Samuel went and dwelt
in Najoth.

Najoth... It was probably a school or college of prophets, in or near
Ramath under the direction of Samuel.

19:19. And it was told Saul by some, saying: Behold David is in Najoth,
in Ramatha.

19:20. So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company
of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the Spirit of
the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy.

Prophesying... That is, singing praises to God by a divine impulse. God
was pleased on this occasion that both Samuel's messengers and himself
should experience the like impulse, that he might understand, by this
instance of the divine power, how vain are the designs of man against
him whom God protects.

19:21. And when this was told Saul, he sent other messengers: but they
also prophesied. And again Saul sent messengers the third time: and they
prophesied also. And Saul being exceeding angry,

19:22. Went also himself to Ramatha, and came as far as the great
cistern, which is in Socho, and he asked, and said: In what place are
Samuel and David? And it was told him: Behold they are in Najoth, in
Ramatha.

19:23. And he went to Najoth, in Ramatha, and the Spirit of the Lord
came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied till he came to
Najoth, in Ramatha.

19:24. And he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied with
the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. This
gave occasion to a proverb: What! is Saul too among the prophets?

1 Kings Chapter 20

Saul being obstinately bent upon killing David, he is sent away by
Jonathan.

20:1. But David fled from Najoth, which is in Ramatha, and came and said
to Jonathan: What have I done? what is my iniquity, and what is my sin
against thy father, that he seeketh my life?

20:2. And he said to him: God forbid, thou shalt not die: for my father
will do nothing, great or little, without first telling me: hath then my
father hid this word only from me? no, this shall not be.

20:3. And he swore again to David. And David said: Thy father certainly
knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, and he will say: Let not
Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. But truly as the Lord liveth,
and thy soul liveth, there is but one step (as I may say) between me and
death.

20:4. And Jonathan said to David: Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I
will do for thee.

20:5. And David said to Jonathan: Behold to morrow is the new moon, and
I, according to custom, am wont to sit beside the king to eat: let me go
then that I may be hid in the field till the evening of the third day.

To morrow is the new moon... The neomenia, or first day of the moon,
kept according to the law, as a festival; and therefore Saul feasted on
that day: and expected the attendance of his family.

20:6. If thy father look and inquire for me, thou shalt answer him:
David asked me that he might run to Bethlehem, his own city: because
there are solemn sacrifices there for all of his tribe.

20:7. If he shall say: It is well: thy servant shall have peace: but if
he be angry, know that his malice is come to its height.

20:8. Deal mercifully then with thy servant: for thou hast brought me,
thy servant, into a covenant of the Lord with thee. But if there be any
iniquity in me, do thou kill me, and bring me not in to thy father.

20:9. And Jonathan said: Far be this from thee: for if I should
certainly know that evil is determined by my father against thee, I
could do no otherwise than tell thee.

20:10. And David answered Jonathan: Who shall bring me word, if thy
father should answer thee harshly concerning me?

20:11. And Jonathan said to David: Come, and let us go out into the
field. And when they were both of them gone out into the field,

20:12. Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall discover
my father's mind, to morrow, or the day after, and there be any thing
good for David, and I send not immediately to thee, and make it known to
thee,

20:13. May the Lord do so and so to Jonathan, and add still more. But if
my father shall continue in malice against thee, I will discover it to
thy ear, and will send thee away, that thou mayst go in peace, and the
Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.

20:14. And if I live, thou shalt shew me the kindness of the Lord: but
if I die,

20:15. Thou shalt not take away thy kindness from my house for ever,
when the Lord shall have rooted out the enemies of David, every one of
them from the earth, may he take away Jonathan from his house, and may
the Lord require it at the hands of David's enemies.

May he take away Jonathan, etc... It is a curse upon himself, if he
should not be faithful to his promise.-Ibid. Require it, etc... That is,
revenge it upon David's enemies, and upon me, if I should fail of my
word given to him.

20:16. Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and
the Lord required it at the hands of David's enemies.

20:17. And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he
loved him as his own soul.

20:18. And Jonathan said to him: To morrow is the new moon, and thou
wilt be missed:

20:19. For thy seat will be empty till after to morrow. So thou shalt go
down quickly, and come to the place where thou must he hid, on the day
when it is lawful to work, and thou shalt remain beside the stone, which
is called Ezel.

20:20. And I will shoot three arrows near it, and will shoot as if I
were exercising myself at a mark.

20:21. And I will send a boy, saying to him: Go and fetch me the arrows.

20:22. If I shall say to the boy: Behold the arrows are on this side of
thee, take them up: come thou to me, because there is peace to thee, and
there is no evil, as the Lord liveth. But if I shall speak thus to the
boy: Behold the arrows are beyond thee: go in peace, for the Lord hath
sent thee away.

20:23. And concerning the word which I and thou have spoken, the Lord be
between thee and me forever.

20:24. So David was hid in the field, and the new moon came, and the
king sat down to eat bread.

20:25. And when the king sat down upon his chair, (according to custom)
which was beside the wall, Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side,
and David's place appeared empty.

20:26. And Saul said nothing that day, for he thought it might have
happened to him, that he was not clean, nor purified.

20:27. And when the second day after the new moon was come, David's
place appeared empty again. And Saul said to Jonathan, his son: Why
cometh not the son of Isai to meat neither yesterday, nor to day?

20:28. And Jonathan answered Saul: He asked leave of me earnestly to go
to Bethlehem.

20:29. And he said: Let me go, for there is a solemn sacrifice in the
city, one of my brethren hath sent for me: and now if I have found
favour in thy eyes, I will go quickly, and see my brethren. For this
cause he came not to the king's table.

20:30. Then Saul being angry against Jonathan, said to him: Thou son of
a woman that is the ravisher of a man, do I not know that thou lovest
the son of Isai to thy own confusion, and to the confusion of thy
shameless mother?

20:31. For as long as the son of Isai liveth upon earth, thou shalt not
be established, nor thy kingdom. Therefore now presently send, and fetch
him to me: for he is the son of death.

The son of death... That is, one that deserveth death, and shall surely
be put to death.

20:32. And Jonathan answering Saul, his father, said: Why shall he die?
What hath he done?

20:33. And Saul caught up a spear to strike him. And Jonathan understood
that it was determined by his father to kill David.

20:34. So Jonathan rose from the table in great anger, and did not eat
bread on the second day after the new moon. For he was grieved for
David, because his father had put him to confusion.

20:35. And when the morning came, Jonathan went into the field according
to the appointment with David, and a little boy with him.

20:36. And he said to his boy: Go, and fetch me the arrows which I
shoot. And when the boy ran, he shot another arrow beyond the boy.

20:37. The boy therefore came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan
had shot: and Jonathan cried after the boy, and said: Behold the arrow
is there further beyond thee.

20:38. And Jonathan cried again after the boy, saying: Make haste
speedily, stand not. And Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and
brought them to his master:

20:39. And he knew not at all what was doing: for only Jonathan and
David knew the matter.

20:40. Jonathan therefore gave his arms to the boy, and said to him: Go,
and carry them into the city.

20:41. And when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place, which was
toward the south, and falling on his face to the ground, adored thrice:
and kissing one another, they wept together; but David more.

20:42. And Jonathan said to David: Go in peace: and let all stand that
we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying: The Lord be
between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.

20:43. And David arose, and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Kings Chapter 21

David receiveth holy bread of Achimelech, the priest: and feigneth
himself mad before Achis, king of Geth.

21:1. And David came to Nobe, to Achimelech, the priest and Achimelech
was astonished at David's coming. And he said to him: Why art thou
alone, and no man with thee?

Nobe... A city in the tribe of Benjamin, to which the tabernacle of the
Lord had been translated from Silo.

21:2. And David said to Achimelech, the priest: The king hath commanded
me a business, and said: Let no man know the thing for which thou art
sent by me, and what manner of commands I have given thee: and I have
appointed my servants to such and such a place.

21:3. Now therefore if thou have any thing at hand, though it were but
five loaves, give me, or whatsoever thou canst find.

21:4. And the priest answered David, saying: I have no common bread at
hand, but only holy bread, if the young men be clean, especially from
women?

If the young men be clean, etc... If this cleanness was required of them
that were to eat that bread, which was a figure of the bread of life
which we receive in the blessed sacrament; how clean ought Christians to
be when they approach to our tremendous mysteries. And what reason hath
the church of God to admit none to be her ministers to consecrate and
daily receive this most pure sacrament, but such as devote themselves to
a life of perpetual purity.

21:5. And David answered the priest, and said to him: Truly, as to what
concerneth women, we have refrained ourselves from yesterday and the day
before, when we came out, and the vessels of the young men were holy.
Now this way is defiled, but it shall also be sanctified this day in the
vessels.

The vessels... i. e., the bodies, have been holy, that is, have been
kept from impurity.-Ibid. Is defiled... Is liable to expose us to
dangers of uncleanness.-Ibid. Be sanctified, etc... That is, we shall
take care, notwithstanding these dangerous circumstance