whom he said, Come here, So he came, and sat down. 3. Then he desired ten of the elders of the city to sit down; which they did. 3. Then he said to the kinsman, Naomi being returned from the land of Moab, selleth a field which was our kinsanan Elimelech's, 4.So I thought it proper to inform thee, that if thou wilt redeem it, thou mightest buy it, before the inhabitants and the elders of the city; but if thou wilt not, let me know, for thou art the nearest, and I am the next to thee. Then he said, I am willing. 5. Then said Boaz, If thou wilt purchase it of Naomi, thou must also purchase Ruth the Moabitess, the widow, to raise up an offspring to take the name of the deceased, as an heir to his inheritance.

6. But the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it without hurting mine own inheritance; occupy thou any right.

7. It was a custom formerly in Israel, in all cases of redeeming, and transfering, for confirmation, that a man took off his shoe, and gave it as an evidence. S. Therefore the nearest kinsman took off his shoe, and gave it to Boaz, saying, Claim thou for thyself. 9. Then Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and Chilion's, and MahJon's, his sous, from Naomi. 10. And have also taken Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, to be my wife, to raise up an heir to the dead, to take his name and his inheritance, that his name perish not from, among his brethren and citizens..

11. Then all the people in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. May the Eternal make the woman thou hast taken for a wife like Rachel and Leah, who reared Israel's house, and be thou prosperous in Ephrath, and famous in Bethlehem. And let thy family, of the offspring which the Etermal shall give thee by this young woman, be like that of Pharez, Judah's son by Tamar.

12.

13. So Boaz took Ruth for a wife; and had a son by her. 14. Then the women said to Naomi, Blessed be the Eternal, who hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, whose name shall be famous in Israel. 15. He shall be the comfort of thy life, and nourish thine old age; he is the son of thy daughterin-law, who loveth thee, and is better to thee than

seven sons.

16. So Naomi took the child into her bosom, and nursed it. 17. And the women of her neighbourhood called him Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18. This is the genealogy of Pharez: He was the father of Hezron, 19. The father of Ram, the father of Amminidab, 20. The father of Nashon, the father of Salmon, 22. The father of Boaz, the father of Obed, 23. The father of Jesse, the father of David.

2

THE BOOK OF SAMUEL;

OR THE

FIRST BOOK OF

KINGS.

CHAP I.

SAMUEL'S BIRTH AND DEDICATION.

THERE HERE was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, named Elkanah, Jehoram's son, Elihu's son, Tohu's son, Zuph's son, an Ephrathite, 2. Who had two wives; the one named Hannah, and the other Peninnah: Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3. Now this man went from his city (Exod. xxiii, 14.) yearly to worship and sacrifice before the Eternal God of hosts in Shiloh; and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, the Eternal's priests, were there.

4. And when Elkanah offered a sacrifice, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and all her sons and daughters, portions of it. 5. But to Hannah he gave a special portion; for he loved her, but the Eternal had rendered her barren. 6. Her rival also provoked her spitefully, on that account, to make her fret. 7.Thus yearly when she went up to the Eternal's house, Peninnah provoked her so, that she wept, and did not eat. 8. Then said Elkanah, her husband, to her, Why weepest thou? and why eastest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee

than ten sons?

9. Hannah arose after they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh (now Eli the priest sat on a seat by a door post of the Eternal's temple); 10. And being in bitterness of soul, she prayed to the Eternal, and wept sore. 11. Now she made a vow, saying, O Eternal God of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on thine handmaid's affliction, and remember me, but not forget, and give thine handmaid a manchild, I will devote him to the Eternal (to be a Nazarite) all his life, and no razor shall come on his head, Num. vi. 5.

12. While she prayed before the Eternal, Eli ob served her mouth. 13. She spake in her heart only; tho' her lips moved, her voice was not heard: hence Eli imagined she was drunk. 14. Then Eli said to her, How long wilt thou be drunk? put away thy wine. 15. But she replied, No, my lord; I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul's desire in prayer before the Eternal. 16. Reckon not thine handmaid bad as a daughter of Befial; for out of excessive vexation and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17. Then Eli replied, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition. 18. Then she said, Let thine handmaid obtain thy favour. So she went away, and ate; and her countenance was no more sad.

19. They rose early, and worshipped before the Eternal; then they returned to their house at Ramah. Then Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. 20. Now when the time of her pregnancy was finished, she had a son, and called him Samuel, because she asked him of the Eternal.

21. Now the man Elkanah, with all his family, went up to Shiloh, to offer to the Eternal the yearly sacrifice, and what he had vowed. 22. But Hannah went not till the child was weaned; and then she said, I will bring him to appear before the

23.

Eternal, and abide there during his course. Then her husband said to her, Do what seemeth good to thee; tarry till thou have weaned him; but may the Eternal perfect what concerns him. So she abode; and suckled her son till she weaned him. 24. And being weaned, she took him with her, and a bullock three years old, and an ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the Eternal's house in Shiloh; the child being young. 25. Then they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26. Then she said, Oh, my lord! as thy soul liveth, truly, I am the woman that stood by thee here praying to the Eternal. 27. I prayed for this child, and the Eternal' granted my petition. 28. Therefore I have returned him to the Eternal, as long as he liveth. Then they worshipped the Eternal there.

CHAP. II.

HANNAH'S SONG.

Now Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Eternal, my power is exalted by the Eternal; my mouth is opened to answer my rivals, because I rejoice in thy salvation.

2. There is none holy as the Eternal; for there is none (Eternal) besides thec; neither is there any refuge like our God. 3. Speak no more so exceeding proudly; for the Eternal is a God omniscient, and by him events are predisposed. 4. The bows of the mighty are broken, and the feeble are become strong. 5. The satiated hired themselves for bread; and they that were hungry are satisfied: the barren hath born abundantly, and is satisfied, and she that hath many children is worn out. 6. The Eternal kills and revives; he brings nigh to the grave; and brings up. 7. The Eternal makes poor, and makes rich; he brings low, and lifts up. 8. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beg.