9 And David faid to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his Hand against the LORD's Anointed, and be guiltless?

10 David faid furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD fhall fmite him, or his Day fhall come to die, or he fhall defcend into Battle and perish.

II The LORD forbid that I fhould ftretch forth mine Hand against the LORD's Anointed but I pray thee, take thou now the Spear that is at his Bolfter, and the Crufe of Water, and let us go.

12 So David took the Spear and the Crufe of Water from Saul's Bolfter, and they gat them away, and no Man faw it, nor knew it, neither awaked for they were all asleep, because a deep Sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

13 Then David went over to the other fide, and stood on the top of an Hill afar off, (a great Space being between them.)

14 And David cried to the People, and to Abner the Son of Ner, faying, Anfwereft thou not, Abner? Then Abner anfwered and faid, Who art thou that crieft to the King?

15 And David faid to Abner, Art not thou a valiant Man? and who is like to thee in Ifrael? wherefore then haft thou not kept thy Lord the King? for there came one of the People in to deftroy the King thy LORD.

16 This Thing is not good that thou haft done as the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your Mafter the LORD's Anointed: and now fee where the King's Spear is, and the Crufe of Water that was at his Bolster.

17 And Saul knew David's Voice, and faid, Is this thy Voice, my Son David? And David faid, It is my Voice, my Lord, O King.

18 And he faid, Wherefore doth my Lord thus purfue after his Servant? for what have I done? or what Evil is in mine Hand?

19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my Lord the King hear the Words of his Servant: If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an Offering: but if they be the Children of Men, curfed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this Day from abiding in the Inheritance of the LORD, faying, Go ferve other Gods.

20 Now therefore let not my Blood fall to the Earth before the Face of the LORD: for the King of Ifrael is come

out

out to feek a Flea, as when one doth hunt a Partridge in the Mountains.

21 Then faid Saul, I have finned: return, my Son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my Soul was precious in thine Eyes this Day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

22 And David answered and faid, Behold, the King's Spear, and let one of the young Men come over and fetch

it.

23 The LORD render to every Man his Righteousness, and his Faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my Hand To-day, but I would not stretch forth mine Hand against the LORD's Anointed.

24 And behold, as thy Life was much fet by this Day in mine Eyes; fo let my Life be much set by in the Eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all Tribulation.

25 Then Saul faid to David, Bleffed be thou, my Son David: thou fhalt both do great Things, and alfo fhalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his Place.

CHA P. XXVII.

1 Saul hearing David to be in Gath, feeketh no more for him. 5 David beggeth Ziklag of Achish.

CHA P. XXVIII.

3 Saul having deftroyed the Witches, 7 afterwards feeketh for one; who being encouraged by him, raifeth up Samuel. 15 Saul's Ruine foreshewn.

Ver. 1

AN

ND it came to pass in thofe Days, that the Philiftines gathered their Armies together for Warfare, to fight with Ifrael and Achifh faid unto David, Know thou affuredly, that thou fhalt go out with me to Battle, thou and thy Men.

2 And David faid to Achifh, Surely thou shalt know what thy Servant can do. And Achifh faid to David, Therefore will I make thee Keeper of mine Head for ever.

:

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Ifrael had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own City and Saul had put away those that had familiar Spirits, and the Wizards out of the Land.

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem : and Saul gathered all Ifrael together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

5 And when Saul faw the Hoft of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his Heart greatly trembled.

6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD anfwered him not, neither by Dreams, nor by Urim, nor by Prophets.

7 Then faid Saul unto his Servants, Seek me a Woman that hath a familiar Spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his Servants faid to him, Behold, there is a Woman that hath a familiar Spirit at En-dor.

8 And Saul difguifed himself, and put on other Raiment, and he went, and two Men with him, and they came to the Woman by Night; and he faid, I pray thee divine unto me by the familiar Spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee.

9 And the Woman faid unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar Spirits, and the Wizards out of the Land: wherefore then layeft thou a Snare for my Life, to caufe me to die?

10 And Saul fware to her by the LORD, faying, As the LORD liveth, there fhall no Punishment happen to thee for this Thing.

II Then faid the Woman, Whom fhall I bring up unto thee? and he faid, Bring me up SAMUEL.

12 And when the Woman faw Samuel, fhe cried with a loud Voice and the Woman spake to Saul, faying, Why haft thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13 And the King faid unto her, Be not afraid for what faweft thou? And the Woman said unto Saul, I faw Gods afcending out of the Earth.

14 And he faid unto her, What FORM is he of? And fhe faid, An OLD MAN COMETH UP; and he is covered with a Mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his Face to the Ground, and bowed himself.

15 And SAMUEL faid to SAUL, Why haft thou difquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am fore diftreffed; for the Philistines make War against me, and GOD is departed from me, and ANSWERETH me NO MORE, neither by Prophets, nor by Dreams: therefore I have cal

led thee, that thou mayeft make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then faid Samuel, Wherefore then doft thou ask of me, feeing the LORD is DEPARTED from thee, and is become thine Enemy?

17 And the LORD hath done to him as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the Kingdom out of thine Hand, and given it to thy NEIGHBOUR, even to DAVID :

18 Because thou OBEYEDST NOT the Voice of the LORD, nor executedft his fierce Wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this Thing unto thee this Day.

19 Moreover, the LORD will alfo deliver Ifrael with thee, into the Hand of the Philiftines and To-morrow fhalt thou and thy Sons be with me: the LORD alfo fhall deliver the Hoft of Ifrael into the Hand of the Philiftines.

20 Then Saul fell ftraightway all along on the Earth, and was fore afraid, because of the Words of Samuel, and there was no STRENGTH in him: for he had eaten no Bread all the Day, nor all the Night.

21 And the Woman came unto Saul, and faw that he was fore troubled, and faid unto him, Behold, thine Handmaid hath obeyed thy Voice, and I have put my Life in my Hand, and have hearkned unto thy Words which thou fpakeft unto me.

22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou alfo unto the Voice of thine Handmaid, and let me fet a Morfel of Bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayeft have Strength, when thou goeft on thy way.

23 But he refused, and faid, I will not eat but his Servants together with the Woman, compelled him, and he hearkned unto their Voice: fo he arofe from the Earth, and fat upon the Bed.

24 And the Woman had a fat Calf in the House, and the hafted, and killed it, and took Flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened Bread thereof.

25 And fhe brought it before Saul, and before his Servants, and they did eat: then they rofe up, and went away that Night.

David marching with the Philistines, 3 is difallowed by their Princes: 6 Achish difmiffeth him,

СНАР.

CHA P. XXX.

The Amalekites fpoil Ziklag. 7 David encouraged by GoD purfueth them, 11 and overtaketh them, and recovereth the Spoil: 26 Sendeth Prefents.

CHA P. XXXI.

Saul having loft his Army, and his Sons being flain, he and his Armour-bearer kill themselves. 8 The Philifines triumph over the dead Carcafes.

Ver. 1

Now

OW the Philiftines fought against Ifrael and the Men of Ifrael fled from before the Philiftines, and fell down flain in Mount Gilboa.

2 And the Philiftines followed hard upon Saul, and upon his Sons; and the Philistines flew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchifhua, Saul's Sons.

3 And the Battle went fore against Saul, and the Archers hit him, and he was fore wounded of the Archers.

4 Then faid Saul unto his Armour-bearer, Draw thy Sword, and thruft me through therewith; left thefe Uncircumcifed come and thruft me through, and abyfe me. But his Armour-bearer would not; for he was fore afraid therefore Saul took a Sword and fell upon it.

5 And when his Armour-bearer faw that Saul was dead, he fell likewife upon his Sword, and died with him.

6 So Saul died, and his three Sons, and his Armour-bearer, and all his Men that fame Day together.

7 And when the Men of Ifrael that were on the other fide of the Valley, and they that were on the other fide of Jordan, faw that the Men of Ifrael fled, and that Saul and his Sons were dead, they forfook the Cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 And it came to pafs on the Morrow, when the Phili ftines came to ftrip the Slain, that they found Saul and his three Sons fallen in Mount Gilboa.

9 And they cut off his Head, and stripped off his Armour, and fent into the Land of the Philiftines round about, to publish it in the House of their Idols, and among the People.

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