1   A Child of ^note one yeare was Saul when he began to reigne, and ^note two yeares he reigned ouer Israel.

2   And Saul chose to him selfe three thousand of Israel: and there were with Saul two thousand in Machmas, and in the mount of Bethel: and a thousand with Ionathas in Gabaa of Beniamin, moreouer the rest of the people he sent backe euerie man into their tabernacles.

3   And Ionathas stroke the garrison of the Philisthijms, which was in Gabaa. Which when the Philisthijms had heard, Saul sounded with the trumpet in al the land, saying: Let the Hebrewes heare.

4   And al Israel heard this maner of bruite: Saul hath striken the garrison of the Philisthijms: and Israel tooke courage against the Philisthijms. The people therfore cried after Saul in Galgal.

5   And the Philisthims were gathered together to fight against Israel, thirtie thousand chariotes, and six thousand horsemen, and the rest of the common people, as the sand which is in the sea shore very much. And going vp they camped in Machmas at the East of Bethauen.

6   Which when the men of Israel had seene them selues put in a streict (for the people was afflicted) they hid them selues in caues, and in secrete places, in rockes also, and in dennes, and in cesternes.

7   And the

Samuel. Saul. Hebrewes passed Iordan into the Land of Gad and Galaad. And when Saul was yet in Galgal, al the people was sore afrayd, which folowed him.

8   And he expected seuen daies according to the appointment of Samuel, and Samuel came not into Galgal, and the people slipt away from him.

9   Saul therfore said: Bring me the holocauste, and the pacifiques. And he offered the holocauste.

10   And when he had finished offering the holocauste, behold Samuel came: and Saul went forth to mete him & salute him.

11   And Samuel spake to him: What hast thou done? Saul answered: Because I sawe that the people slipt from me, and thou wast not come according to the dayes appointed, moreouer the Philisthijms were gathered together into Machmas,

12   I said: Now wil the Philisthijms come downe to me into Galgal, & I haue not pacified the face of our Lord. Compelled by necessitie, I offered the holocauste.

13   And Samuel said to Saul: Thou hast ^note done folishly, neither hast thou kept the commandementes of our Lord thy God, which he commanded thee. Which ^note if thou hadst not done, euen now had our Lord prepared thy kingdom ouer Israel for euer,

14   but thy kingdom shal no farder arise. Our Lord hath sought him a man according to his hart: and him hath our Lord commanded to be prince ouer his people, because thou hast not obserued the thinges which our Lord commanded.

15   And Samuel arose and went vp from Galgal into Gabaa of Beniamin. And numbered the people, which were found with him, as it were six hundred men.

16   And Saul and Ionathas his sonne, and the people that were found with them, was in Gabaa of Beniamin: moreouer the Philisthijms had pitched in Machmas.

17   And there issued forth to praye from the campe of the Philisthians three companies. One compaine went on against the way of Ephra to the Land of Saul.

18   Moreouer an other went by the way of Bethhoron, & the third had turned it self to the way of the border, in the valley Seboim against the desert.

19   Moreouer there was not found an yron smith in al the Land of Israel. for the Philisthijms had so prouided, lest perhaps the Hebrewes should make sword or speare.

20   Al Israel therefore went downe to the Philisthijms, that euerie man might whette his plough culter, and spade, & axe, and rake.

21   Therefore the edges of the shares, and spades, & forkes with three teeth, and axes, were blunt, euen to the godeprick, which

Samuel. Saul. was to be mended.

22   And when the day was come to fight, there was not found sword and speare in the hand of al the people, that was with Saul and Ionathas, except Saul and Ionathas his sonne.

23   And the station of the Philistijms went forth, to passe vp into Machmas.

Previous section

Next section