that they eat the Blood with the Flesh Afterwards Saul enquired of God whether he should any further pursue the Philistines but God answered him not Whereupon he concluded there had been some transgression among 'em and cast Lots to find it out and the Lot falling upon Jonathan Saul would have put him to Death but the People rescued him So Saul fought against all his Enemies and prevail'd and when he saw any strong and valiant Man he took him to him CHAP. XV. Samuel by Gods appointment sends Saul utterly to destroy the Amalekites both Man Woman and Child and all their Cattel So Saul smote 'em and took their King Agag and utterly destroyed all the People but spared the King and the best of the Cattel and of the Prey Whereupon God tells Samuel That he repented of making Saul King Then Samuel went to Saul and reproved him severely for not obeying the Voice of the Lord And whereas Saul pretended they kept the best of the Cattel for Sacrifice Samuel tells him that To obey is better than Sacrifice and to harken than the fat of Rams and that Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft And because he had rejected the Word of the Lord God had also rejected him from being King And as Samuel turned about to go away from him Saul laid hold on the Skirt of his Mantle and rent it at which Samuel said God has rent the Kingdom from thee this day and given it to a Neighbour of thine that is better than thou Then Samuel commanded Agag to be brought to him and he hewed him in pieces before the Lord in a Sacrifice to him CHAP. XVI Then God commanded Samuel to take an Horn of Oyl and anoint one of the Sons of Jesse and to go to Bethlehem to offer Sacrifice and to call Jesse and his Sons to the Sacrifice that the Design might not be perceived by Saul So Jesse being come and making seven of his Sons pass before Samuel he said it was none of them that his business was withal Then he call'd the youngest who was keeping of Sheep and when he came Samuel anointed him in the midst of his Brethren And the Spirit of God came upon him and departed from Saul and an evil Spirit troubled him whereupon he sent for David to play before him and so the evil Spirit departed from him CHAP. XVII After this the Philistines and Israelites set their Battel in array one against another and there was a Valley between ' em Then a Champion of the Philistines a Giant whose Name was Goliath came and stood between the two Armies and challenged any of the Israelites to fight with him and defied their Armies Thus he did forty days together At last David being sent by his Father to his three eldest Brethren that were in the Army to carry 'em some Provision and see how they did hearing the vaunting blasphemous Speeches of this Philistine and being told that whosoever could kill him the King would give him his Daughter and make him a great Man David undertakes to sight with him So Saul sent for him and told him he was a very unequal Match for the Philistine But David told him how he had slain both a Lion and a Bear and that God who had deliver'd him from them would also deliver him from this Philistine So he took only his Shepherds Staff and a Sling in his Hand and went against the Philistine But when the Philistine drew near and saw him he despised him But David told him he came to him in the Name of the Lord of Hosts who would deliver him into his hand and discomfit their Host that all the Earth may know there is a God in Israel So David slang a Stone which sank into his Forehead and he fell down Then David ran and took Goliath's own Sword and cut off his Head Whereupon the Army of Israel set upon the Philistines and routed 'em and David brought the Head of Goliath in his hand to Saul Hereupon CHAP. XVIII Jonathan entred into a strict League of Friendship with David and lov'd him as his own Soul And David was set over the Men of War and accepted of all the People And as David return'd from the Slaughter of the Philistine the Women came out of all the Cities saying Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands for which Saul envied him from that day forward so that the next time that the Evil Spirit came upon Saul and David played afore him Saul threw a Javelin at him to have slain him But David avoided twice out of his Presence and he was beloved by all the People and also Michal Saul's Daughter fell in love with him for her Husband to which Saul readily consented requiring only an hundred Fore-skins of the Philistines for a Dowry designing thereby to have him slain by the Philistines But David and his Men slew two hundred Philistines and brought their Foreskins to Saul So Saul's Jealousie of David still increased And CHAP. XIX Saul spake to Jonathan his Son and all his Servants to kill David which Jonathan acquainted David with and bids him hide himself and then vindicates David to his Father whereupon Saul sware to him not to hurt him so they were reconciled again Then David made War with the Philistines again and overcame 'em And the Evil Spirit came upon Saul and David played afore him and he threw a Javelin again at him but David slipt aside and escap'd But Saul sent Messengers to watch him in his House then Michal his Wife let him down thro' a Window and laid an Image in the Bed so that when Saul sent for him they found only an Image So David came to Samuel to Ramah and Saul hearing of it sent Messengers once and again to take him but when they came to the place among the Prophets they fell a prophesying also and Saul going thither himself prophesied in like manner wherefore they say Is Saul also among the Prophets CHAP. XX. So David fled from thence and came to Jonathan and advises with him about the best way for his safety and they agree that he should absent himself from the Feast at the New Moon and see how Saul resented it Then they went out into the Field together and renewed their Covenant of Friendship not only for their Persons but for their Posterity and Jonathan gave him a Signal whereby he should know his Fathers Affection towards him So when the New Moon was come and David's Place was empty two days together Saul enquired the reason of it and Jonathan made an excuse for him Whereupon Saul fell into a great Rage and reviles him and threw his Javelin at him Then Jonathan rose from the Table in great anger and went into the Field and discover'd all to David so they parted CHAP. XXI Then David came to Ahimelech the Priest at Nob who entertain'd him and gave him the Sword of Goliath From thence he went to Achish King of
him King over them But Abner Saul's General made Ishbosheth Saul's Son King over the rest of the Tribes Then Joab and Abner met and fought a Battel wherein Abner was beaten and Asahel pursuing after Abner Abner turned back and smote him that he died But Joab and Abishai pursued still after Abner till Abner call'd to Joab and checks him for his hot pursuit whereupon he sounded a Retreat CHAP. III. After this there was long War between David and Ishbosheth but David still waxed stronger and stronger and the House of Saul grew weaker and weaker during which time Abner went in to one of Saul's Concubines for which being reproved by Ishbosheth he was much displeased and revolts to David and promises to bring all Israel to him and accordingly perswades all the chief of the People to be for David and came himself to promise him his assistance But Joab perswaded David that he was not sincere but intended only to deceive him and therefore sent Messengers to Abner to bring him back and pretends to talk friendly with him but smote him that he died At which David was exceedingly disturb'd and clears himself from any guilt therein and makes a great mourning for him CHAP. IV. When Ishbosheth and the Men of Israel heard of Abner's Death they were much concerned and Ishbosheth's Party growing very weak two of his Captains came and slew him and carried his Head to David thinking thereby to curry favour with him but David caus'd 'em both to be slain for their treachery to their Lord and took Ishbosheth's Head and buried it CHAP. V. Then the Heads of all the Tribes came to David and made him King over all Israel and he went to Jerusalem and took the strong hold of Sion and dwelt there calling it the City of David Then Hiram King of Tyre sent him Work-men and Materials and he built him a House Then the Philistines came to make War with him but David smote 'em twice together CHAP. VI. Then David gathered all the chosen Men of Israel together and went to fetch the Ark from the House of Abinadab and they set it upon a new Cart and Uzza and Ahio drave the Cart. And David and all the People plaid afore it But when they came to Nachon's Threshing-floor the Oxen stumbled and shook the Cart whereupon Uzza put forth his Hand to hold it from falling but God smote him for his rashness and he died there Then David was afraid to bring it to his own House but lodged it in the House of Obed-Edom and God blessed Obed-Edom and all his House which being told to David then he brought up the Ark to his own City with great gladness sacrificing Oxen and Fatlings as they went along and David danced before it which Michal spying despis'd him in her Heart So they plac'd it in a Tabernacle which David had made with great joy and feasting But Michal came out to meet David and derided him for his undecent Carriage as she interpreted it for which God smote her with Barrenness CHAP. VII David being now at rest from all his Enemies bethinks himself of building a House for God and acquaints Nathan with it who encourages him thereto But that night God sends Nathan to David to tell him That not himself but his Son should build him an House Whereupon David acknowledges Gods great goodness to him and prays that his House may be blessed as he had promis'd him CHAP. VIII After this David subdues the Philistines Moabites Hadadezer and the Syrians and took the Shields of Gold from the Servants of Hadadezer and brought 'em to Jerusalem and exceeding much Brass from his Cities and dedicated to the Lord all the Treasures that he took from any of the Nations and the Presents that were sent him and God prospered him exceedingly and he administred Justice to all the People CHAP. IX David remembring the Covenant between him and Jonathan enquires after his Posterity and hearing of Mephibosheth sends for him gives him all the Land that belonged to Saul entertains him at his own Table and gives Ziba charge to manage all his concerns for him CHAP. X. David hearing that the King of Ammon his Friend was dead sent Embassadors to his Son to condole with him but he treated 'em very rudely and sent 'em away Whereupon David sent Joab against 'em to chastise 'em for their Insolence and Joab put 'em to flight and the Syrians also who came to their assistance and so again a second time whereupon they made peace with Israel and became Tributaries to ' em CHAP. XI After this David sends Joab to besiege Rabbah but himself tarried at Jerusalem and one Evening walking upon the top of his House he spy'd a beautiful Woman bathing her self so he sent for her and lay with her and she conceived and acquainted David with it who thereupon sent for her Husband Uriah from the Siege and bad him go down to his own House and refresh himself but he staid among David's Servants Whereupon David sent him to Joab with a Letter to set him in a place of danger that he might be slain which was done and David had notice of it So when the days of mourning were past he sent and took Bathsheba to be his Wife and she bare him a Son But this displeased the Lord. CHAP. XII And he sent Nathan to David who by a Parable of a rich Man that had many Flocks and a poor Man that had but one Ewe Lamb yet the rich Man took the poor Man's Ewe Lamb to dress for a Traveller that came to him causes David to pass Sentence against himself Then Nathan tells him Thou art the Man and threatned him That the Sword should never depart from his House Whereupon David confesses his sin and Nathan tells him It was pardon'd but because of the Scandal of it the Child should die which came to pass accordingly Afterwards Bathsheba bare another Son whom David called Solomon And the Lord loved him and sent by Nathan and call'd him Jedidiah Then Joab sent to David to come to the Siege of Rabbah that he might have the honour of taking it which he did and set the Kings Crown on his own Head and took much spoil and tortur'd the People and so came back CHAP. XIII After this Amnon fell in love with his half Sister Tamar and by Jonadab's Advice feigns himself sick and desires that his Sister Tamar might come and attend upon him So David sent her to him Then he took hold of her and forc'd her and ravish'd her which when he had done he turn'd her out of Doors so she went away crying and met with her Brother Absalom who quieted her and kept her in his House and hated Amnon for this but concealed it And having a Sheep-shearing he invited all his Brethren to it and in the midst of their mirth his Servants slew Amnon whereupon they all fled away and Absalom fled to his Father-in-law and was there three
Gath where he feigned himself mad so that Achish cares not for his Company CHAP. XXII After this David was feign to fly to several places for shelter and Saul complained to his Servants of their unfaithfulness that they 'd not discover to him where David was Then Doeg told him of David's coming to Ahimelech and of Ahimelech's kindness to him So Saul commanded his Footmen to slay all the Priests but they refusing he commanded Doeg to do it who slew all the Priests at Nob and put all to the Sword that were in the City only Abiathar one of Ahimelech's Sons escap'd and went and told David of it CHAP. XXIII Then David went to Keilah and smote the Philistines and saved Keilah Saul hearing he was there gathered the People together to besiege him Then David enquired of God whether the Men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul who answer'd They would So he departed out of Keilah and went into the Wilderness of Ziph and Jonathan came to him thither and strengthned his hands and they renewed their Covenant again Then the Ziphites informed Saul that David hid himself there so Saul and his Men went to seek him Then David came into the Wilderness of Maon and Saul followed him thither and compass'd the Mountain where he was But in that very nick of time came a Messenger to Saul to acquaint him that the Philistines had invaded the Land So Saul left following of David and went against the Philistines But CHAP. XXIV After Saul was return'd from following the Philistines he pursued David again and went to the Wilderness of Engedi and there went into a Cave to cover his Feet and David and his Men were in the sides of the Cave Then David privily cut off the Skirt of Saul's Robe for which afterwards his Heart smote him When Saul went out of the Cave David call'd after him and told him how it was in his power to have slain him and to convince him thereof shew'd him the Skirt of his Garment that he had cut off Whereupon Saul acknowledged David's Innocence and his own Fault and made him swear not to cut off his Posterity and so departed CHAP. XXV David went into the Wilderness of Paran and hearing of a rich Man one Nabal that had a Sheep-shearing he sent some of his Servants to him for some Provision but Nabal gave 'em ill Language and sent 'em away empty whereupon David resolv'd to destroy him But one of Nabal's Servants told his Mistress Abigail of David's Message and his Masters Answer So she took a Present to pacifie David and as she went she met David and excuses the matter to him and begs his pardon and acceptance of that Present and tells him she was well assur'd that God would avenge him of all his Enemies and then it would be no grief to him that he had not shed Blood causless nor aveng'd himself Herewith David was well satisfy'd and blesses God for her advice and accepts her Present and her Person So when Abigail return'd home the next morning she told her Husband these passages whereupon his Heart died within him and about ten days after God smote him that he died which when David heard of he sent Messengers to Abigail to become his Wife which she accepts of and went with ' em CHAP. XXVI The Ziphites give Intelligence again to Saul where David was So Saul came down to seek him But David and Abishai went to Saul's Camp by night and found 'em all fast asleep So Abishai would have had David given him leave to have slain him but David would not only took his Spear and a Cruise of Water and went to a Hill a good way off and call'd to Abner and upbraided him for his carelesness and speaks also to Saul to convince him of his innocency Whereupon Saul acknowledges his Fault again and blesses him CHAP. XXVII David desparing of freedom from Saul's persecutions flies to Achish King of Gath who gave him Ziklag to dwell in Then he invaded the Geshurites and Amalekites and slew all the People and took their Cattel and return'd and came to Achish who asking him Whither they had made an inroad David tells him It was against the Land of Judah whereupon Achish now thought him sure to his Interest CHAP. XXVIII The Philistines going to War against Israel Achish takes David along with him and makes him Captain of his Life-guard When Saul saw the Philistines Army he was afraid and enquired of the Lord but he answered him not Then he went to a Woman at Endor that had a Familiar Spirit and bids her call up Samuel who askt him Why he had disquieted him Saul answered God has forsaken me therefore I have call'd thee to know what I must do Then said Samuel The Lord will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines and to morrow Thou and thy Sons shall be with me Then Saul was afraid and fainted But his Servants and the Woman constrained him to eat something to refresh himself withal CHAP. XXIX When the Commanders of the Philistines muster'd their Forces and saw David there with Achish they were much displeased and caus'd him to be dismiss'd for fear he should turn to their Enemies So David and his Men departed CHAP. XXX When David was come to Ziklag he found that the Amalekites had smitten it and burnt it and carried away all their Wives and Children whereupon David was greatly distress'd for the People spake of stoning him but he encouraged himself in the Lord his God and enquired of God what he should do who bad him pursue after 'em and he should overtake 'em and recover all And accordingly finding 'em making merry he smote 'em all and recovered all they had lost and also all the rest of the Spoil they had gotten of which he sent Presents to all his Friends in Judah that had assisted and relieved him in his distress CHAP. XXXI Then the two Armies joyn'd Battel and the Philistines prevail'd and slew Saul's three Sons and wounded Saul himself whereupon he fell upon his own Sword and slew himself The next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain they found the Bodies of Saul and his three Sons and cut off Saul's Head and put his Armour in the House of Ashtaroth and fastned his Body on the Wall of Bethshan But the Men of Jabesh-Gilead went by Night and took away his Body and the Bodies of his Sons and burn't 'em and buried their Bones under a Tree at Jabesh II. SAMUEL CHAP. I. AN Amalekite brings tidings to David that the Israelites were overthrown and that Saul and Jonathan were dead and withal tells him that Saul being fallen upon his Spear he himself stood upon him and slew him Whereupon David commands him to be slain for killing of Saul Then David lamented the Death of Saul and Jonathan with a Song CHAP. II. After this by God's Direction David goes up to Hebron where the Men of Judah made