come over unto the people, and come in their faces, 9. Then shall they say, Stand still, till we come unto you; and we will stand still in our place, and not go up unto them.

But if they shall say, Come up unto us, and we will go up unto them, the LORD hath given them into our dogs. And this shall be a sign unto us.

And it came to pass, when they were come both to the face of the Philistines’ camp, that the Philistines said, Behold, the Ebrams are gone out of the holes wherein they were hid.

And the men of the camp answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said: Come up hither unto us, and we will teach you well. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

And Jonathan went up with his hands and with his feet, and his armourbearer after him. And they fell down before Jonathan, and his armourbearer choked him continually, 14. So that the first battle which Jonathan and his armourbearer did was about twenty men, almost half a hoof of ground, which is a yoke.

And there was a terror in the camp in the field, and in all the people of the camp; and the bands that went about were afraid; so that the land trembled: for it was a terror from God.

And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah-benjamin saw that the multitude was broken up, and that they went astray, and were broken up.

And Saul said unto the people that were with him, Count and see which of us are departed.
And when they counted, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.

And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God: for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

And while Saul yet spake unto the priest, the tumult and the running of the Philistines’ camp increased. And Saul said unto the priest, Remove thy hand.

And Saul called, and all the people that were with him, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword went against every man’s, and there was a very great tumult.

And the Ebramites also, which were before with the Philistines, and went up with them in the camp round about, joined themselves to Israel, which were with Saul and Jonathan.

And all the men of Israel, which were hid in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, went after them in battle.

So the LORD helped Israel in those days. And the battle continued unto Bethaven.

And when the men of Israel were faint that day, Saul charged the people, saying, Cursed be every man that eateth any thing until even, that I may avenge myself on mine enemies. So all the people ate nothing.

And all the land came into the forest. And there was honey in the field.

And when the people were come into the forest, behold, honey flowed. But no man put it into his mouth with his hand: for the people feared the oath.

And Jonathan had not heard that his father had bidden the people: and he stretched out his staff which he had in his hand, and dipped the point thereof in the honeycomb, and turned his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were open.

And one of the people answered and said, Thy father hath charged the people, saying, Cursed be every one that eateth this day. And the people were dim.

And Jonathan said, My father hath wandered in the land: behold, how mine eyes are waxed open, that I have tasted a little of this honey.

And because the people did not eat this day of the spoil of their enemies, which they found, the battle was not increased against the Philistines.

And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash even unto Ajalon. And the people were very faint.

And the people dressed the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground, and ate them so bloody.

And they told Saul, Behold, the people have sinned against the LORD, in that they eat blood.
And he said: Ye have done wickedly: roll now unto me a great stone.

And Saul said again, Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, Bring every man his ox and his sheep unto me, and slay them all there, that ye may eat them, and not sin against the LORD by eating the blood. So all the people brought every man his ox with his hand by night, and slew it there.

And Saul built an altar unto the LORD. This is the first altar which he built unto the LORD.

And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them, until the morning light; that we leave none of them. And they answered: Do all that pleaseth thee. And the priest said, Let us come near hither unto God.

And Saul said unto GOD, Shall I go down after the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not at that time.

And Saul said, Let all the multitudes of the people come near, and know and see in whom is
the sin at this time;

For as the LORD liveth, the Saviour of Israel, though it be in my son Jonathan, he shall die.
And no man answered him of all the people.

And he said unto all Israel, Be ye on that side; and I and Jonathan my son will be on this side.
And the people said unto Saul, Do as it pleaseth thee.

And Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Execute judgment. And Jonathan and Saul were smitten: but the people went out free.

And Saul said, Cast upon me and upon Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was smitten.

And Saul said unto Jonathan, Tell me, what hast thou done? Jonathan told him, and said: I have tasted a little honey with the rod that was in my hand: and, behold, I die for it.

And Saul said, God do this unto me, and that unto me, Jonathan: thou must surely die.

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought such great salvation in Israel? Far be it from him. As the LORD liveth, there shall not an hair of his head fall to the ground: for God hath done it by him this day. So the people redeemed Jonathan, that he died not.

And Saul went up from the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their place.

And when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned he punished.

And he made an army, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hand of all that oppressed them.

And Saul had sons; Jonathan, and Ishwi, and Malchishua. And his two daughters’ names were Merob the firstborn, and Michal the youngest.

And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, a daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of his captain of the host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul’s cousin.

And Kish was Saul’s father: and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

And there was a sore battle against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw a strong man, and a valiant man, he took him.
(1 Samuel)
Chapter 15
Saul rejected for his disobedience.

And Samuel said unto Saul, The LORD hath sent me to anoint thee king over his people Israel: now therefore hear the voice of the words of the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I have considered what Amalek did unto Israel, and how he changed his way, when he came out of Egypt.

Now therefore go and smite the Amalekites, and destroy them with all that they have. Spare not him, but slay both man and woman, children and sucklings, oxen and sheep, camels and asses.

And Saul brought them before the people, and numbered them Thelaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

And when Saul was come to the city of Amalek, he set an ambush by the brook.

And he said unto the Kenite, Pray, depart, and come down from among the Amalekites, lest I put you to death with them: for ye did mercy unto all the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. So the Kenites went out from among the Amalekites.

And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah even unto Shur, which is before Egypt.

And Agag the king of Amalek was taken alive, and all the people he banished with the edge of the sword.

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the good sheep, and the oxen, and the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but they destroyed that which was vile and unprofitable.

And the word of the LORD came unto Samuel, saying:

It repenteth me that I have made Saul king: for he hath turned back from me, and hath not fulfilled my words. And Samuel was wroth, and cried unto the LORD all night long.

And Samuel rose up early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told him, that Saul was come to Carmel, and had set up for him a sign of victory, and was gone about, and came down to Gilgal.

And when Samuel came to Saul, Saul said unto him, Blessed art thou unto the LORD. I have fulfilled the word of the LORD.

And Samuel said, What then is the bleating of the sheep in mine