258 Hannab's prayer. 6 And her adverfary alfo provoked her fore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had fhut up her womb. 7 And as he did fo year by year, when The went up to the house of the LORD, fo heprovoked her; therefore the wept, and did not eat. 8 Then faid Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, Why weepeft thou? and, Why eateft thou not? and, Why is thy heart grieved? Am not I better to thee than ten fons ? 9 So Hannah rofe up after they had caten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest fat upon a feat by a roft of the temple of the LORD. 10 And he was in bitternefs of foul,and prayed unto the LORD, and wept fore. 11 And the vowed a vow, and faid, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there fhall no razor come upon his head. 12 And it came to pafs, as the continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, the fpake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was hot heard; therefore Eli thought she had beca dronken. 14 And Eli faid unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee. 15 And Hannah anfwered and faid, No, my lord, I am a woman of a forrowful fpirit: I have drunk neither wine nor firong drink, but have poured out my foul before the LORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I fpoken hitherto. Hannah's fong. houfe, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly facrifice and his vow. But Hannah went not up; for he faid unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 23 And Elkanah her husband faid unto her, Do what feemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him, only the LORD eftablish his word. So the woman abode, and gaveher fou fuck until the weaned him. 24 And when he had weaned him, fhe took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine,and brought him unto the houfe of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25 And they flew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And the faid, O my lord, as thy foul liveth, my lord,I am the woman that frood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which 1 afked of him; 28 Therefore alfo I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he thall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. CHAP. II. 1 Hannah's fong. 12 The fin of Eli's fons, 18 Samuel's miniftry. A propbecy against Eli's bonje. AND Hannah prayed, and faid, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD: mine horn is exalted in the LORD; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy falvation. 2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none befide thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 31alk no more fo exceeding proudly; let nor arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are. broken, and they that fumbled are gird. ed with ftrength. 17 Then Eli anfwered and faid, Go in peace and the God of racl grant thee thy petition that thou hatt alked of him. 5 They thai were full have hired out 18 And the said, Let thine handmaid [themselves for bread, and they that were find grace in thy fight. So the woman hungry ceafed fo that the barren hath went her way, and did eat,and her coun-borne feven; and the that hath many chiltenance was no more fad. dren is waxed feeble. 19 And they rofe up in the morn- 6 The LORD killeth, and maketh aing early, and worshipped before the live he bringeth down to the grave,and LORD, and returned and came to their bringeth up. houfe to Ramah: And Elkanah knew 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh Hannah his wife; and the LORD remem-rich he bringeth low, and lifteth up. bered her. 20 Wherefore it came to pafs, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that he bare a fon, and called his name Samuel, Jaying, Becaufe I have afked him of the LORD. 21 And the man Elkanah, and all his 8 He raiteth up the poor out of the duft, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to fet them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth arethe LORD's, and he hath fet the world upon them. 9 He will keep the feet of his faints, and the They are reproved. 259 the wicked fhall be filent in darkness; for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened by ftrength thall no man prevail, not unto the voice of their father, becaufe the LORD would flay them. 10 The adverfaries of the LORD fhall be broken to pieces; out of heaven thall he thunder upon them: the LORD hall judge the ends of the earth; and he fhall give ftrength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. 11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house And the child did minifter unto the LORD before Eli the priest. 12 Now the fons of Eli were fons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered facrifice, the priest's fervant came, while the feth was in teething, with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand : 14 And he ftruck it into the pan, cr kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleth book brought up the priest took for himfelf So they did in Shiloh unto all the Ifraelites that came thither 15 Also before they burnt the fat, the prieft's fervant came, and faid to the man that facrificed, Give flesh to roaft for the prieft; for he will not have fodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if any man faid unto him. Let them not fail to burn the fat prelently, and then take as much as thy foul delireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the fin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. 18 But Samuel miniftered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen sphod. 26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and alfo with men. 27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and faid unto him, Thus faith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the houfe of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's houfe? 28 And, Did i choose him out of all the tribes of Ifrael to be my prieft, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incenfe, to wear an ephod before me and, Did I give unto the houfe of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Ifrael? 29 Wherefore kick ye at my facrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy fons above me, to make yourfelves fat with the chiefeft of all the offerings of Ifrael my people? 30 Wherefore the LORD God of Ifrael faith, I faid indeed that thy koufe, and the houfe of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD faith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me will honour, and they that despise me fhall be lightly esteemed. I 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's houfe, that there shall not be an old man in thine house 32 And thou shalt fee an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God hall give Ifrael: and there shall not be an old man in thine houfe for ever 33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, fall be to 19 Moreover, his mother made him a confume thine eyes, and to grieve thine little coat, and brought it to him from heart: and all the increafe of thine houte year to year, when he came up with her, fhall die in the flower of their age. ufband to offer the yearly facrifice. 20 And Eli bleffed Elkanah and his wife, and faid, The LORD give thee feed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. 21 And the LORD vifited Hannah, so that the conceived. and bare three fons and two daughters And the child Sam-, nel grew before the LORD. Now Eli wasvery old and heard all that his fons did unto all Ifrael; and how they Jay with the women that affembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he faid unto them, Why do ye fuch things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 34 And this fall be a fign unto thee, that fhall come upon thy two fons, on Hoplini and Phinehas; in one day they fall die both of them. 35 And I will raffe me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which isin mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a are houfe and he shall walk before mine Anointed for ever. 36 And it shall come to pafs, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of filver and a mortel of bread, and thall fay, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the pricfts' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. CHAP. III. 1 How the word of the Lord was first re21 Nay, my fons; for it is no good re-sealed to Samuel. 11 God telleth Samport that I hear ye make the LORD'S : people to tranfgrefs. uel the deftruction of Eli's bouse. AND the child Samuel minilered un 25 If one man in against another, the to the LORD before Eli. And the word judge hall judge him but if a man fin of the LORD was precious-in thofe days; against the LORD, Whe hall entreat for, there was no open vifion. : 240 Samuel called 1. SAMUEL. The Ifraelites are overtime. 2 And it came to pass at that time, | 18 And Samuel told him every whit, when Eli was laid down in his place,and and hid nothing from him. And he faid, his eyes began to wax dim, that he could It is the LORD: let him do what feemeth him good not fee; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down 10 feep: That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli. and faid, Here am 1: for thou calledft me. And he faid, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the LORD called yet again, Sam-1 vel. And Samuel arofe and went to Eli, and faid, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he anfwered, I called not, my fon, lie down again. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arofe and went to Eli,and faid, Here am I; for thou didst call me And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. : 9 Therefore Eli faid unto Samuel Go, lie down and it fhall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt fay, speak, LORD; for thy Servant heareth So Samuel went and lay down in his place 10 And the LORD came and food, and called as at other times, Sanuel, Samuel. Then Samuel anfwered, Speak; for thy fervant heareth. 19 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Ifrael from Dan even to Bee: heba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. for the LORD revealed himfelt to Samuel inShiloh by the wordofthe LORD. CHAP IV. The Ifraelites are overcome by the Phifnes. 10 The ark is taken, and El?'s fons fain. 12 Eli hearing the news, breakeih bis neck. AND the word of Samuel came to all Ifrael. Now Ifrael went out against the Philiffines to battle, and pitched befide Ebenezer and the Philiftines pitched in Aphek. : 2 And the Philiftines put themselves in array againft Ifrael: and when they join ed battle, Ifrael was fmitten before the Philiftines and they few of the army in the field about four thoufand men 5 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Ifrael faid, Wherefore hath the LORD fmitten us today before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may fave us out of the hand of our enemies. 11 And the LORD faid to Samuel. Be4 So the people fent to Shiloh, that hold, I will do a thing in Ifrael, at which they might bring from thence the ark both the ears of every one that heareth itjof the covenant of the LORD of hosts, hall tingle which dwelleth between the cherubims: 12 In that day I will perform againft and the two fons of Eli, Hophni and Phin Eli all things which I have spoken con-chas, were there with the ark of the cov cerning his houfe: when I begin I will enant of God. alfo make an end. And when the ark of the covenart 18 For I have told him that I will of the LORD came into the camp, all Ifjudge his houfe for ever for the in-rael fhouted with a great fhout, to that quity which he knoweth ; becaufe his fons the earth rang again made the mfelves vile, and he reftrained 6 And when the Philiftines heard the the vifion. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and faid. Samuel, my fon. And he antwered, Here am I noife of the fhout, they faid, What meaneth the noite of this great hout in the camp of the hebrews? And they underftood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. And the Ph liftines were afraid, for they faid. God is come into the canip. And they faid, Woe unto us!, for there hath not been fuch a thing heretofore. 8 Woe unto us! Who shall deliver usout of the hand of thefe mighty Gods? Thefe are the Gads that fmote the Egyptians 17 And he faid, What is the thing with all the plagues in the wilderness. that the LORD hath faid unto thee? I 9 Be ftrong and quit yourfelves like pray thee hide i: not from me: God do fo to thee, and more alfo if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he faid unto thee. men, O ye Philiftines, that ye be not fervants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourfelves like men, land fight. 10 ¶ And The ark of God is taken. Chap. v. vi. Dagon falletb before the ark. 241 10 And the Philistines fought, and 2 When the Philiftines took the ark of ffrael was fmitten, and they fled every God, they brought it into the houfe of man into his tent and there was a very Dagon, and set it by Dagon. great flaughter: for there fall of Ifrael thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two fons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were flain. 12 And there ran a man of Benjamin ont of the army and came to Shiloh the fame day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. 18 And when he came, lo, Eli fat upon a feat by the way fide watching for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noife of the crying, he faid. What meaneth the noife of this tumult and the man came in haftily, and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years ald; and his eyes were dim, that he could not fee. 16 And the man faid unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. And he faid, What is there done, my fon ? 17 And the meffenger anfwered and faid, Ifrael is fed before the Philiftines, and there hath been also a great flaughter among the people, and thy two fons alfo, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pafs, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the feat backward by the fide of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man and heavy. And he had judged Ifrael forty years. 3 And when they of Afhidod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and fet him in his place again. 4 And when they arofe early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the fump of Dagon was left to him. 5 'Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's houfe, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Afhdod unto this day. 6But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Afhdod, and he deftroyed them, and fmote them with emerods, even Abdod and the coafts thereof. 7 And when the men of Ashdod faw that it was fo, they faid, The ark of the God of Ifrael thall not abide with us: for his hand is fore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 8 They fent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and faid, What fhall we do with the ark of the God of Ifrael? And they anfwered, Let the ark of the God of Ifrael be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Ifrael a bout thither. 9¶And it was fo, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great deftruction: and he fmote the men of the 19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas's city, both fmall and great, and they had wife, was with child, near to be deliver-emerods in their fecret parts. ed: and when he heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, the bowed herself and travailed; for he pains came upon her. 10 Therefore they fent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pafs, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, faying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Ifrael to us, to flay us and our people. 20 And about the time of her death, the women that flood by her faid unto 11 So they fent and gathered together her, Fear not; for thou haft borne a fon. all the lords of the Philiftines, and faid, But the answered not, neither did she Send away the ark of the God of Ifrael, regard it. and let it go again to his own place, that 21 And the named the child Ichabod, it flay us not, and our people for there faying, The glory is departed from Ifrael:was a deadly deftruction throughout all because the ark of God was taken, and the city; the hand of God was very because of her father in law and her heavy there. husband. 12 And the men that died not, were 22 And the faid, The glory is departed finitten with the emerods: and the cry from Ifrael: for the ark of God is taken. of the city went up to heaven. CHAP. V. CHAP. VI. The Philiftenes counsel bow 10 fend back the ark. 10 They bring it on a new cart to Bethfemefb. 19 The peopls/mitten. AND the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philiftines feven months. 2 And 242 The Philistines return the ark. I. SAMUEL. 2 And the Philiftines called for the priefts and the diviners, faying, what fhall we do to the ark of the LORD? Tell us wherewith we shall fend it to his place. 3 And they faid, If ye fend away the ark of the God of Ifrael, fend it not empty, but in any wife return him a trefpafs offering: then ye thall be healed, and it fhall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. 4 Then faid they, What ball be the trefpafs offering which we shall return to him? They anfwered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords 5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Ifrael: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land. The Bethfbemites fmitten clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great ftone: and the men of Bethheme fh offered burnt offerings and facrificed facrifices the fame day unto the LORD. 16 And when the five lords of the Phi liftines had feen it, they returned to Ekron the fame day. 17 And thefe are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trefpafs offering unto the LORD; for Afhdod one, for Gaza one, for Afkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one. 18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philiftines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages,even unto the great ftone of Abel, whereon they fet down the ark of the LORD: which Stone remaineth unto this day in the field 6 Wherefore then do ye harden your of Joshua, the Bethshemite. hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh 19 And he fmote the men of Bethhardened their hearts? When he had shemeh, because they had looked into the wrought wonderfully among them, Didark of the LORD, even he fmote of the they not let the people go, and they de- people fifty thousand and threefcore and parted? ten men and the people lamented, because the LORD had fmitten many of the people with a great flaughter. 7 Now therefore, make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: 8 And take the ark of the LORD, and Jay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trefpafs offering, in a coffer by the fide thereof; and fend it away, that it may go. 9 And fee, if it goeth up by the way of his own coaft to Bethfhemefh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand That fmote us; it was a chance that happened to us. 20 And the men of Bethfhemesh faid, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and, To whom shall he go up from us? 21 And they fent meffengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, faying, The Philiftines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you. CHAP. VII. & The Ifraelites, by Samuel's means, folemnly repent at Mixpeb. 9 Samuel praying, the Philistines are difcomfited. AND the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD,and brought it into the houfe of Abinadab in the hill, and fanctified Eleazar his fon to keep the ark of the LORD. 10 And the men did fo and took two mich kine, and tied them to the cart, and thut up their calves at home: 11 And they laid the ark of the LORD up. on the cart, and the coffer with the mice 2 And it came to pafs, while the ark of gold and the images of their emerods. Jabode in Kirjathjearim, that the time 12 And the kine took the ftraight way was long; for it was twenty years and to the way of Bethshemes, and went all the houfe of Ifracl lamented after the along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not afide to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Phi liftines went after them unto the border of Beththemeth. LORD. 3 And Samuel fpake unto all the houfe of Ifrael, faying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth 15 And they of Beththemesh were reap-|from among you,and prepare your hearts ing their wheat harveft in the valley and unto the LORD, and ferve him only and they lifed up their eyes and faw the ark. he will deliver you out of the hand of the and rejoiced to fee it. Philiftines. 14 And the cart came into the field of Johan, a Beththemite, and flood there, Where there was a great flone: and they 4 Then the children of Ifrael did put away Baalim and Afhtaroth, and ferved the LORD only. |