assembled at Mizpeth, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord (Jer. ix. i.), and fasted that day, and said, We have sinned against the Eternal. And Samuel judged the Israelites in Mizpeh.

7. Now the Philistines hearing that the Israelites were assembled at Mizh, the lords of the Philistines went up against them. And when the Israelites heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8. Then the Israelites said to Samuel, Cease not to invoke the Eternal our God for us, that he may save us from the Philistines.

9. Then Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a holocaust to the Eternal; and cried to the Eternal for Israel, and the Eternal answered him. 10. For as Samuel was offering up the holocaust, the Philistines approached to fight against Israel; the Eternal so dreadfully thundered that day upon the Philistines, and so discomfited them, that they fell before Israel. 11. For the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth12. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Eternal helped us.

car.

13. The Philistines were so subdued, that they came no more into the coast of Israel all the days of Samuel, for the Eternal's hand was against them. 14. And all the cities which the Philistines took from Israel were restored, from Ekron even to Gath; their coasts Israel recovered from the Philistines. For there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15. Samuel judged Israel all the rest of his life. 16. And he went yearly in circuit to Bether, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in those pla17. Then he returned to Ramah, where his house was; and there he judged Israel, and then he built an altar to the Eternal.

ces.

CHAP. VIII.

THE ISRAELITES WILL HAVE A KING.

WHEN Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel; 2. The first born was named Joel, and the second Abiah; they were judges at Bethel and Beersheba. 3. But his sons walked not in his ways, they inclined to covetousness, took bribes, and perverted justice. 4. Therefore all the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5. And said to him, Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; give us now a king to judge us like all the nations.

6. But their asking a king, displeased Samuel; and Samuel prayed to the Eternal. 7. And the Eternal said to Samuel, Hearken to the people, in all they say to thee; for they have not only rejected thee, but they have rejected me also, from reigning over them. 8. According to all the deeds which they have done since the day I brought them out of Egypt even to this day, by forsaking me, and serving other gods; so do they also to thee. 9. Now, therefore, obey their voice; but make to them a solemn protest against them, then shew them in what manner a king will reign over them.

10. Then Samuel told all the Eternal's words to the people that asked a king. 11. And said, These are the terms in which a king will reign over you; he will take your sons for his charioteers and his horsemen, and to run before his chariots. 12. He makes of them captains over thousands, and hundreds and fifties, he will set them to plow his ground, and reap his harvest, and to make his instruments for war, and for his chariots furniture. 13. And he will take your daughters to be confectioners, cooks, and bakers. 14. He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and oliveyards, and give to his servants. 15. He will take the tythe of your

grain and your vineyards, and give to his officers and to servants. 16. He will likewise take the choicest and best of your men-servants, and maid-servants, and young men, and asses, and put them to his work. 17. He will tythe your very flocks, and ye shall be his servants. 18. And ye shall cry out in these days, on account of your king which yourselves have chosen, and the Eternal will not hearken to you in those days.

19. Yet the people would not obey Samuel's voice, but said, Nay, but we will have a king over us, 20. That we too may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, to fight our battles. 21. When Samuel heard all the words of the people, he rehearsed them in the ears of the Eternal Lord. 22. Then the Eternal said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and grant them a king. Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city.

CHAP. IX.

SAUL LEAVES THE ASSES TO BE A KING.

Now there was a man of Benjamin named Kish, Ben-Abiel, Ben-Zeror, Ben-Bechorath, Ben-Aphiah, a Benjamite, a very valiant man. 2. He had a son named Saul, a goodly specious youth, there was not among the Israelites a person so goodly; from his shoulders upward he was higher than any of the people. 3. Now the asses of Kish, Saul's father, had strayed: then Kish said to Saul his son, Take one of the servants with thee, and go seek the asses. 4. They passed through mount Ephraim and the land of Shalisha, but they found them not; then they passed through the land of Shalim, but found them not; then they passed thro'the land of Benjamin, but found them not. 5.And being come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, Come,let us return, lest my father cease to think about the asses, and be anxious about us, 6. But he replied, Lo there is in

that city a man of God, a venerable man; all that he predicts cometh surely to pass; let us now go thither, perhaps he will tell us what way we should go. 7. Then Saul said to his servant, But lo if we go, what have we to present to the man; for the bread is spent that was in our bags, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: What have we? 8. But the servant answered Saul, Lo I have here a quarter of a shekel of silver; let us give that to the man of God for shewing us our way. 9. Formerly, when a man in Israel went to enquire of God, he spake thus, Come let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer. 10. Then Saul said to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11. As they went up to the city, they met young women going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here? 12. They answered, Lo there he is before you: Make haste now, for he came to-day to the city, because there is a public sacrifice in the high place. 13. On your going into the city, ye shall certainly meet him before he go up to the highplace to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he blesseth the sacrifice, and afterwards the invited eat. Go up immediately, for about this time ye shall meet him. 14. So they went up to the city; and being come, behold Samuel met them in going up to the high place.

15. Now the Eternal had revealed it to the ear of Samuel, a day before Saul came, saying, 16. Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man from the land of Benjamin, whom thou shalt anoint chief over my people Israel, that he may save my people from the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come to me. 17. Now when Samuel saw Saul, the Eternal said to him, Behold the man of whom I said to thee, such an one 'shall have dominion over my people.

18. Then Saul accosted Samuel, in the middle of the city; and said, Tell me. I pray thee, where is the seer's house? 19.Then Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer. Go up with me to the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day, and to-morrow I will tell thee all that is in thine heart, and let thee go. 20. As for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind upon them, for they are found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not to thee, and to all thy father's house? 21. Saul answered, saying, Am not I a Benjamite, the smallest of the tribes of Israel; and iny family the least of all the families of that tribe? Why then speakest

thou so to me?

22. But Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and set them at the head of the invited, who were about thirty persons. 23. Then Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I desired thee to set apart, when I said to thee, I had invited people. 24. Then the cook took up the shoulder, and what was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold what is left for thee, now placed before thee, eat; for till this time hath it been kept for thee, since I said I invited some people. So Saul on that day ate with Samuel.

25. Then they came down from the high place into the city, where Samuel communed with Saul on the top of the house. 26. For early in the morning, Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out abroad. 27. When they were come to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (so he passed on), but stop thou a while, that I may tell thee the purpose of God.