# verses

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As Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no one had lifted up any iron tool; and they offered thereon burntofferings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peaceofferings.


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And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.


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And all Israel, and their elders, and the officers, and their judges, stood on this side and on that side of the ark, opposite the priests the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger no less than the native born: half of them turned toward mount Gerizzim, and the other half of them turned toward mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded, to bless the people of Israel at first.


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And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, all, just as it is written in the book of the law.


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There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded, which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the stranger that walked in the midst of them.


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And it came to pass, when all the kings that were on this side of the Jordan, in the mountain, and in the lowlands, and in all the coast of the great sea opposite Lebanon, the Hittites, and the Emorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard this,


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They also did work wilily, and went and feigned to be messengers, and took old sacks for their asses, and winebottles, old, and rent, and bound up;


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And <i>put</i> old and patchedup shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.


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And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We are come from a faroff country; and now make ye a covenant with us.


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And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell in the midst of us; and how can we make a covenant with you:


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And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and whence come ye!


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And they said unto him, From a very faroff country are thy servants come, because of the name of the Lord thy God; for we have heard his fame, and all that he hath done in Egypt;


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And all that he hath done to the two kings of the Emorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to Sichon the king of Cheshbon, and to Og the king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.


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Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, as followeth, Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, Your servants are we: and now make ye with us a covenant.


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This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; and now, behold, it is dry, and it is become mouldy:


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And these winebottles, which we filled, when new, but behold, they are now become rent; and these our garments and our shoes are become worn out by reason of the very long journey.


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And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the princes of the congregation swore unto them.


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And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt in the midst of them.


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And the children of Israel broke up, and came unto their cities on the third day; and their cities were Gibon, and Kephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiryathyearim.


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And the children of Israel smote them not; because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord, the God of Israel; but all the congregation murmured against the princes.


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And all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord the God of Israel: and now we cannot touch them.


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This will we do to them, and we will let them live, that there be no wrath upon us, on account of the oath which we have sworn unto them.


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And the princes said unto them, Let them live: and they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken unto them.


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And Joshua called for them, and he spoke unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye deceived us, saying, We are very far from you: whereas ye dwell in the midst of us?


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And now be ye cursed, and there shall not cease to be of you servants and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.


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And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God had commanded his servant Moses to give unto you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; wherefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and we have done this thing.


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And he did unto them thus; and he delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, and they slew them not.


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And Joshua appointed them on that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, for the place which he should choose.


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Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; <i>that</i> as he had done to Jericho and its king, so had he done to Ai and its king; and that the inhabitants of Gibon had made peace with Israel, and were in the midst of them:


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That they were greatly afraid; because Gibon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.


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Therefore Adonizedek the king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham the king of Hebron, and unto Piram the king of Yarmuth, and unto Yaphia, the king of Lachish, and unto Debir the king of Eglon, saying,


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Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibon; for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.


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And the five kings of the Emorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Yarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, assembled themselves together, and went up, they and all their camps, and encamped before Gibon, and made war against it.


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And the men of Gibon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Do not withdraw thy hand from thy servants: come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Emorites that dwell in the mountains are assembled together against us.


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And Joshua went up from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.


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And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid of them; for into thy hand have I delivered them: there shall not stand a man of them before thee.


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And the Lord brought them in confusion before Israel, and they smote them with a great slaughter at Gibon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent to Bethchoron, and smote them up to Azekah, and up to Makkedah.


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And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were in the declivity of Bethchoron, that the Lord cast down upon them great stones from heaven, up to Azekah, and they died: there were more who died by means of the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel had slain with the sword.


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Then spoke Joshua to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered up the Emorites before the children of Israel, and he said before the eyes of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ayalon.


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And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Yashar? And the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens, and hastened not to go down about a whole day.


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And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.


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But you, do ye not stay, pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them: suffer them not to enter into their cities; for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.


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And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of smiting them with a very great defeat, till they were all spent, and those that escaped had fled from them and entered into the fortified cities,


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That all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: no one pointed against any man of the children of Israel his tongue.


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Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out unto me those five kings out of the cave.


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And they did so, and brought forth unto him those five kings out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Yarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon.


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And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon their necks.


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And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be disheartened, be strong and of good courage; for thus will the Lord do unto all your enemies against whom ye fight.


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And Joshua smote them afterward, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees; and they remained hanging upon the trees until the evening.


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And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hidden; and they placed great stones upon the mouth of the cave, <i>which remain</i> even until this very day.


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And Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its king he devoted, them, and all the souls that were therein; he left none that escaped; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done unto the king of Jericho.


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Then did Joshua, and all Israel with him, pass from Makkedah unto Libnah; and he fought against Libnah;


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And the Lord delivered it also into the hand of Israel, with its king; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he left none in it that escaped; and he did unto its king as he had done unto the king of Jericho.


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And Joshua, and all Israel with him, passed from Libnah unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it;


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And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel; and he captured it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein: just as he had done to Libnah.


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Then came up Horam the king of Gezer to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none that escaped.


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And Joshua and all Israel with him passed from Lachish unto Eglon; and they encamped against it, and fought against it;


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And they captured it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword; and all the souls that were therein he devoted on that day: just as he had done to Lachish.


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And they captured it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its king, and all its cities, and all the souls that were therein; he left none that escaped, just as he had done to Eglon; and he devoted it, and all the souls that were therein.


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And he captured it, and its king, and all its cities; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and devoted all the souls that were therein; he left none that escaped: as he had done to Hebron, so did he to Debir and to its king; and as he had done to Libnah and to its king.


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And Joshua smote all the country, the mountain, and the south, and the lowlands, and the declivities, and all their kings; he left none that escaped; and all that breathed he utterly destroyed, as the Lord, the God of Israel had commanded.


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And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gazzah, and all the country of Goshen, even up to Gibon.


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And all these kings and their land did Joshua capture at one time; because the Lord, the God of Israel fought for Israel.


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And it came to pass, that, when Yabin the king of Chazor heard these things, he sent to Yobab the king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,


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And to the kings that were at the north, on the mountains, and in the plains, south of Kinneroth, and in the lowlands, and in the district of Dor on the west,


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To the Canaanites on the east and on the west, and to the Emorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the mountains, and to the Hivites under Chermon in the land of Mizpah.


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And they went out, they and all their camps with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the seashore in multitude, and with very many horses and chariots.


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And all these kings assembled themselves together, and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.


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And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for tomorrow about this time will I give all of them up slain before Israel: their horses shalt thou hamstring and their chariots shalt thou burn with fire.


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And Joshua and all the people of war with him came upon them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.


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And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and pursued them unto great Zidon, and unto Missrephothmayim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none that escaped.


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And Joshua did unto them as the Lord had said unto him: their horses he hamstringed and their chariots he burnt with fire.


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And Joshua at that time turned back, and captured Chazor, and its kings he smote with the sword; for Chazor aforetimes was the head of all these kingdoms.


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And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, and devoted them; there was not left any one having breath; and Chazor he burnt with fire.


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And all the cities of these kings, and all their kings, did Joshua capture, and he smote them with the edge of the sword, and he devoted them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded.


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But as for the cities that had been left standing in their strength, these did Israel not burn: save Chazor only did Joshua burn.


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And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, did the children of Israel take as booty unto themselves; but all the men they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them: they left not any one having breath.


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As the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua: he left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.


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And Joshua took all that land, the mountain, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the lowlands, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and its lowlands;


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From the bald mountain that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Chermon; and all their kings he captured, and smote them, and slew them.


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There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibon: the whole they took by war.


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For of the Lord it was to harden their heart, that they should come against Israel in battle, in order to destroy them utterly, that they might obtain no favor: but in order that he might exterminate them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.


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And Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakim from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from the whole mountain of Judah, and from the whole mountain of Israel: with their cities did Joshua destroy them utterly.


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There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gazzah, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained some.


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And Joshua took the whole land, all just as the Lord had spoken unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel, according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.


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And these are the kings of the land whom the children of Israel smote, and whose land they took possession of on the other side of the Jordan, toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Chermon, and all the plain on the east:


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Sichon the king of the Emorites, who dwelt in Cheshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the brook Arnon, and over the land in the middle of the brook, and from half Gilad, even unto the brook Yabbok, the boundary of the children of Ammon;


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And over the plain up to the sea of Kinneroth on the east, and up to the sea of the plain, the salt sea on the east, on the way to Bethhayeshimoth; and at the south, under the declivities of Pisgah;


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And the territory of Og the king of Bashan, who was of the remnant of the Rephaim, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,


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And reigned over mount Chermon, and over Salchah, and over all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilad, <i>to</i> the boundary of Sichon the king of Cheshbon.


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These did Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel smite; and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Menasseh.


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And these are the kings of the country whom Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side of the Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon as far as the bald mountain, that goeth up to Seir; and Joshua gave it unto the tribes of Israel for a possession, according to their divisions;


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In the mountains, and in the lowlands, and in the plain, and in the declivities, and in the wilderness, and in the south country: the Hittites, the Emorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.


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Now Joshua was old, well stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old, stricken in years, and of the land there remaineth yet very much to be taken possession of.


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This is the land that yet remaineth: All the circles of the Philistines, and all <i>the land of the</i> Geshurites,


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From the Shichor, which runneth before Egypt, even unto the boundary of Ekron northward, is counted to the Canaanites; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazzathites, and the Ashdodites, the Eshkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim;


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On the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongeth to the Zidonians, up to Aphek, up to the border of the Emorites;


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And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the rising of the sun, from Baalgad under mount Chermon up to the entrance of Chamath.


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All the inhabitants of the mountain from Lebanon unto Missrephothmayim, all the Zidonians: these will I drive out from before the children of Israel; only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.


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With him the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave unto them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the Lord hath given them;


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From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the brook Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the brook, and all the plain of Medeba up to Dibon;


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And all the cities of Sichon the king of the Emorites, who reigned over Cheshbon, up to the border of the children of Ammon;


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And Gilad, and the territory of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Chermon, and all Bashan up to Salchah;


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All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei; who had been left of the remnant of the Rephaim; and Moses smote them, and cast them out.


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Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites and the Maachathites; but the Geshurites and the Maachathites continued to dwell in the midst of the Israelites until this day.


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Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance: the fireofferings of the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he hath spoken unto them.


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And their territory was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the brook Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the brook, and all the plain by Medeba;


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And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sichon the king of the Emorites, who reigned in Cheshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Chur, and Reba, the dukes of Sichon, the dwellers of the country.


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And Bilam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among their slain.


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And the boundary of the children of Reuben was the Jordan, and its bordering territory. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and their villages.


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And their territory was Yazer, and all the cities of Gilad, and half the land of the children of Ammon, up to Aroer that is before Rabbah;


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And in the valley, Bethharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sichon the king of Cheshbon, the Jordan and its bordering territory, up to the edge of the sea of Kinnereth on the other side of the Jordan eastward.


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And Moses gave unto the half tribe of Menasseh; and it belonged to the half tribe of the children of Menasseh after their families;


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And their territory was from Machanayim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og the king of Bashan, and all the villages of Yair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities;


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And half Gilad and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, <i>belonged</i> unto the children of Machir the son of Menasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir after their families.


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These are they to whom Moses did distribute an inheritance in the plans of Moab, on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.


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But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the Lord the God of Israel is himself their inheritance, as he hath spoken unto them.


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And these are the countries which the children of Israel obtained as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Elazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the divisions of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for an inheritance unto them,


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By the lot as their inheritance: as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and the half tribe.


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For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half tribe on the other side of the Jordan; but unto the Levites he had given no inheritance among them.


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For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Menasseh and Ephraim; therefore they gave no portion unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their open spaces for their cattle and for their substance.


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And the children of Judah came near unto Joshua in Gilgal; and Caleb the son of Yephunneh the Kenizzite said unto him, Thou well knowest the word which the Lord spoke unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thyself in Kadeshbarnea.


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Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.


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But my brethren who had gone up with me caused the heart of the people to be faint; but I wholly followed the Lord my God.


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And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy foot hath trodden shall belong to thee for an inheritance, and to thy children for ever; because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.


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And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he hath spoken: it is now forty and five years since the Lord spoke this word unto Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty and five years old.


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I am yet this day as strong as I was on the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out, and to come in.


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Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spoke on that day; for thou didst hear on that day that the Anakim were there, and great fortified cities: perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the Lord hath spoken.


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Therefore did Hebron become the inheritance of Caleb the son of Yephunneh the Kenizzite unto this day; for the cause that he had wholly followed the Lord the God of Israel.


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And the name of Hebron was aforetimes Kiryatharba, who was the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.


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And the lot for the tribe of the children of Judah after their families came by the border of Edom, with the wilderness of Zin, southward, as the uttermost southern boundary.


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And it went out to the south of the heights of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Chezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karka;


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And it passed on toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the terminations of the boundary were at the sea: this shall be your southern boundary.


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And the east boundary was the salt sea, unto the end of the Jordan. And the boundary in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan;


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And the boundary went up to Bethchoglah, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the boundary went up to Ebenbohan the son of Reuben;


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And the boundary went up toward Debir from the Valley of Achor, and at the north it bent toward Gilgal, that is opposite the heights of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley; and the boundary passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and its terminations were at Enrogel;


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And the boundary went up to the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite, the same is Jerusalem; and the boundary went up to the top of the mount that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of Rephaim northward;


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And the boundary extended from the top of the mount unto the spring of the waters of Nephtoach, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the boundary extended to Baalah, which is Kiryathyearim;


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And the boundary compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Yearim, which is Kessalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah;


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And the boundary went out unto the side of Ekron northward; and the boundary extended to Shikron, and passed along to the mount of Baalah, and went out unto Yabneel; and the terminations of the boundary were at the sea.


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And the west boundary was by the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the boundary of the children of Judah round about according to their families.


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And unto Caleb the son of Yephunneh he gave as a portion among the children of Judah, according to the order of the Lord to Joshua, Kiryatharba the father of Anak, which is Hebron.


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And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Achiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.


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And he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir; and the name of Debir before was Kiryathsepher.


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And Caleb said, He that will smite Kiryathsepher, and capture it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter for wife.


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And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter for wife.


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And it came to pass, as she came thither, that she persuaded him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What aileth thee?


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And she said, Give me a blessing; for a dry land hast thou given me: give me then also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.


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And the cities of the boundary line of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom, on the south, were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Yagur,


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And Lebaoth, and Shilchim, and Ayin, and Rimmon: in all twenty and nine cities, with their villages.


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And Shaarayim, and Adithayim, and Gederah, and Gederothayim: fourteen cities with their villages.


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Ashdod with its towns and its villages, Gazzah, with its towns and its villages, up to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea, and its territory.


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As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, these the children of Judah could not drive out; but the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Judah at Jerusalem, even unto this day.


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And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from the Jordan by Jericho, unto the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho by the mount Bethel,


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And <i>the boundary</i> went out from Bethel to Luz, and passed along unto the boundary of the Arkites to Ataroth,


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And went down westward to the boundary of the Yaphleti, unto the border of Bethchoron the lower, and to Gezer; and its terminations were toward the sea.


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And <i>this</i> was the boundary of the children of Ephraim according to their families; and the boundary of their inheritance on the east side was Atrothaddar, up to Bethchoron the upper;


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And the boundary went out toward the sea to Michmethath on the north; and the boundary fetched a compass eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Yanochah;


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And it went down from Yanochah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and touched on Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.


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From Tappuach westward the border went out unto the brook Kanah; and its terminations were toward the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim after their families;


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And <i>in addition to this</i> the cities which were separated for the children of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Menasseh, all the cities with their villages.


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And they drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt among the Ephraimites until this day, and became tributary servants.


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And then came the lot for the tribe of Menasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph: to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Menasseh, the father of Gilad; because he was a man of war, therefore he obtained Gilad and Bashan.


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There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Menasseh after their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Chelek, and for the children of Assriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Chepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Menasseh the son of Joseph after their families.


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But Zelophchad, the son of Chepher, the son of Gilad, the son of Machir, the son of Menasseh, had no sons, but only daughters, and these are the names of his daughters, Machlah, and Noah, Choglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.


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And they came near before Elazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The Lord commanded Moses to give unto us an inheritance among our brethren. And he gave them, according to the order of the Lord, an inheritance among the brethren of their father.


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And there fell ten portions of Menasseh, beside the lands of Gilad and Bashan, which were on the other side of the Jordan;


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Because the daughters of Menasseh obtained an inheritance among his sons: and the land of Gilad belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.


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And the boundary of Menasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, that lieth before Shechem; and the boundary went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuach.


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To Menasseh belonged the land of Tappuach; but Tappuach on the borders of Menasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;


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And the boundary descended unto the brook Kanah, southward of the brook; these cities belonging to Ephraim are in the midst of the cities of Menasseh; and the boundary of Menasseh was on the north side of the river, and its terminations were toward the sea:


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Southward it was Ephraims, and northward it was Menassehs, and the sea was <i>there</i> his boundary; and on Asher they touched on the north, and on Issachar on the east.


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And to Menasseh belonged in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and its towns, and Yibleam and its towns, together with the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, namely the three districts.


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Yet the children of Menasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of these cities; but the Canaanites succeeded to dwell in this land;


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Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were become strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but they did not drive them out.


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And the children of Joseph spoke unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, seeing I am a numerous people, to which extent the Lord hath hitherto blessed me?


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And Joshua said unto them, If thou art a numerous people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down <i>a space</i> for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, if the mountain of Ephraim be too narrow for thee.


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And the children of Joseph said, The mountain will not be enough for us; and chariots of iron are belonging to all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley, to those who are at Bethshean and its towns, and to those who are in the valley of Yizreel.


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And Joshua said unto the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and to Menasseh, as followeth, Thou art a numerous people, and hast great power; thou shalt not have one lot only;


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But the mountain shall be thine; it is indeed a wood, yet thou canst cut it down; and the terminations of it shall be thine; for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, though they be strong.


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And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up there the tabernacle of the congregation. And the land was subdued before them.


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And there remained among the children of Israel, that had not yet received their inheritance, seven tribes.


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And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long will ye show yourselves slack to go to take possession of the land, which the Lord the God of your fathers hath given to you!


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Furnish for yourselves three men for each tribe; and I will send them out, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance, and come again to me.


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And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall remain on his boundary at the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain on their boundary at the north.


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But you shall make a description of the land in seven parts, and bring it hither to me; and I will cast the lot for you here, before the Lord our God.


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For to the Levites there is no portion among you; for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance; and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Menasseh have already received their inheritance beyond the Jordan, at the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave to them.


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And the men arose, and went away; and Joshua charged those that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and return again to me; and here will I cast the lot for you before the Lord, in Shiloh.


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And the men went and passed through the land, and described it according to the cities in seven parts in a book; and they came again to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.


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And Joshua cast the lot for them in Shiloh before the Lord; and Joshua divided there the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.


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And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families; and the boundary of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.


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And their boundary was on the north side <i>starting</i> from the Jordan; and the boundary went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the mountains westward; and its terminations were at the wilderness of Bethaven.


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And the boundary went over from there toward Luz, to the south side of Luz, which is Bethel; and the boundary descended to Atrothaddar, upon the mount that is on the south side of the lower Bethchoron.


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And the border extended <i>thence</i>, and fetched a compass to the west side, to the south of the mount that is before Bethchoron at the south; and its terminations were at Kiryathbaal, which is Kiryathyearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west side.


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And the south side commenced from the end of Kiryathyearim, and the boundary went out on the west, and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoach:


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And the boundary went down to the end of the mountain that is before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of Rephaim at the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,


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And extended northwardly, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is opposite to the ascent of Adummim, and descended to Ebenbohan the son of Reuben,


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And the boundary passed along to the side of Bethchoglah northward; and the terminations of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea at the south end of the Jordan: this was the south boundary.


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And the Jordan bounded it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by its boundaries round about, according to their families.


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Now these were the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families, Jericho, and Bethchoglah, and Emekkeziz,


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And Zela, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibath, and Kiryath: fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.


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And then came forth the second lot for Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families; and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.


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And all the villages that were round about these cities up to Baalathbeer, South Ramah. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.


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Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them; therefore the children of Simeon obtained their inheritance within their inheritance.


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And then came up the third lot for the children of Zebulun according to their families; and the boundary of their inheritance extended up to Sarid;


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And their boundary went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and touched on Dabbesheth, and touched on the brook that is before Yokneam;


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And turned from Sarid eastward toward the rising of the sun unto the border of Kislothtabor, and then went out to Daberath, and went up to Yaphia;


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And from there it passed on in front to the east unto GathChepher, to Ethkazin, and went out to Rimmon, whence it extended to Neah;


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And this boundary turned about on the north side to Channathon; and its terminations were in the valley of Yiphthachel;


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And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Yidalah, and Bethlechem: twelve cities with their villages.


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This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.


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And the boundary touched on Tabor, and Shachazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the terminations of their boundaries were at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.


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This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.


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And Allammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and it touched on Carmel at the sea, and on Shichorlibnath;


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And it turned toward the rising of the sun to Bethdagon, and touched on Zebulun, and on the valley of Yiphthachel at the north, on Bethhaemek, and Neiel, and went out to Cabul on the left,


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And then the boundary turned back to Ramah, and to the city of Mibzarzor; and then the boundary turned back to Chossah; and the terminations were by the sea in the district toward Achzib;


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This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.


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Unto the children of Naphtali came out the sixth lot, for the children of Naphtali according to their families.


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And their boundary was from Cheleph, from Allonbezaanannim, and Adamihanekeb, and Yabneel, as far as Lakkum; and its terminations were at the Jordan;


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And then the boundary turned westward to Aznothtabor, and went out from there to Chukkok, and touched on Zebulun on the south, and touched on Asher on the west, and on Judah upon the Jordan toward the rising of the sun.


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And Yiron, and Migdalel, Chorem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh: nineteen cities with their villages.


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This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.


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And the territory of the children of Dan went out beyond these; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and captured it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and took possession of it, and dwelt therein, and they called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.


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This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.


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And they made an end of dividing the land for inheritance after its boundaries; and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them;


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By the order of the Lord did they give him the city which he had asked, Timnathserach on the mountain of Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.


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These are the inheritances, which Elazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the divisions of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot, at Shiloh before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.


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speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint for yourselves the cities of refuge, whereof I have spoken unto you by the hand of Moses;


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That thither may flee the manslayer that killeth any person unawares, without knowledge; and they shall be unto you for a refuge from the avenger of the blood.


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And he shall flee unto one of those cities, and he shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and speak in the ears of the elders of that city his words; and they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.


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And if the avenger of the blood should pursue after him, then shall they not deliver the manslayer up into his hand; because without knowledge did he smite his neighbor, and he was not an enemy to him in time past.


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And he shall dwell in that city, until he shall have stood before the congregation for judgment, <i>and</i> until the death of the highpriest that may be in those days: then shall the manslayer return, and come unto his own house, unto the city whence he hath fled.


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And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in the mountain of Naphtali, and Shechem in the mountain of Ephraim, and Kiryatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.


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And on the other side of the Jordan by Jericho eastward, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness in the plain from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilad from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Menasseh.


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These were the cities assigned for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that thither might flee whosoever killeth any person at unawares, and that he should not die by the hand of the avenger of the blood, until he have stood before the congregation.


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<n>(21:36)</n> And from the tribe of Gad, the city of refuge for the manslayer, Ramoth in Gilad with its open spaces, and Machanayim with its open spaces,


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<n>(21:38)</n> All the cities for the children of Merari after their families, they who were remaining of the families of the Levites, even their lot was twelve cities.


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<n>(21:39)</n> All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their open spaces.


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<n>(21:40)</n> These cities were every one with their open spaces round about them: thus it was with all these cities.


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<n>(21:41)</n> And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he had sworn to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.


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<n>(21:42)</n> And the Lord gave them rest round about, all just as he had sworn unto their fathers: and there stood not up before them a man of all their enemies; all their enemies the Lord delivered into their hand.


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<n>(21:43)</n> There failed not aught of all the good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel: it all came to pass.


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And he said unto them, Ye have indeed kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and ye have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:


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Ye have not forsaken your brethren these many days, until this day; but ye have kept the obligation of the commandment of the Lord your God.


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And now the Lord your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them; therefore now turn yourselves, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave unto you on the other side of the Jordan.


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Only take diligent heed to practise the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord hath commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.


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Now to the one half of the tribe of Menasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan; but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua with their brethren on this side of the Jordan westward; and when Joshua sent them also away unto their tents, he blessed them;


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And he said unto them, as followeth, With much riches return unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with copper, and with iron, and with very many garments: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.


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And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel from Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilad, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the order of the Lord by the hand of Moses.


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And when they came unto the districts of the Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar for a show.


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And the children of Israel heard, as followeth, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menasseh have built an altar in the front of the land of Canaan, in the districts of the Jordan, at the side belonging to the children of Israel.


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And when the children of Israel heard it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.


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And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Menasseh, into the land of Gilad, Phinehas the son of Elazar the priest.


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And ten princes with him, one prince each for every division of all the tribes of Israel; and each one was a head of their family divisions among the thousands of Israel.


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And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Menasseh, unto the land of Gilad, and they spoke with them, saying:


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Thus have said the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that ye have built yourselves an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord?


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Have we had too little in the iniquity of Peor,from which we are not yet cleansed until this day,when there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord?


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And will ye turn away this day from following the Lord? and it will be, that when ye will rebel this day against the Lord, tomorrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.


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But not with standing, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the Lord, wherein dwelleth the tabernacle of the Lord, and take possession in the midst of us; but rebel not against the Lord and against us do not rebel, in building yourselves an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God.


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Did not Achan the son of Zerach commit a trespass on the devoted things, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and he, though but one man, perished not alone in his iniquity.


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But the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menasseh answered, and they spoke unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,


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The God of gods, the Eternal, the God of gods, the Eternal, he knoweth, and Israel also shall know: if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, <i>aid us not this day,</i>


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That we have built us an altar to turn away from following the Lord; or if to offer thereon burntoffering or meatoffering, or if to offer thereon peaceofferings, may the Lord himself require it;


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Or whether we have not done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might say unto our children, as followeth, What have ye to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?


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For the Lord hath made a boundary between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad,the Jordan; ye have no part in the Lord: thus might your children make our children cease so as not to fear the Lord.


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Wherefore we said, Let us now act for ourselves to build this altar, not for burntoffering, nor for sacrifice;


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But it shall be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the Lord before him with our burntofferings, and with our sacrifices, and with our, peaceofferings; and that your children may not say in time to come to our children, Ye have no portion in the Lord.


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And we said, that it shall be when they should say this to us and to our generations in time to come, that we may say, Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burntoffering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.


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Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn away this day from following the Lord, to build an altar for burntoffering, for meatoffering, or for sacrifice, beside the altar of the Lord our God that is before his dwelling.


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And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and the heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Menasseh had spoken, it was pleasing in their eyes.


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And Phinehas the son of Elazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Menasseh, This day do we know that the Lord is in our midst, because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord: now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.


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And Phinehas the son of Elazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilad, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and they brought them word again.


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And the thing was pleasing in the eyes of the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God; and they did not speak any more to go up against them to battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.


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And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar<i>"Ed"</i>; for <i>they said</i> it is a witness between us that the Eternal is God.


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And it came to pass after many days, after the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua had grown old and was well stricken in age,


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That Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am become old and well stricken in age;


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And ye have yourselves seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations, because of you; for the Lord your God it is that hath fought for you.


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Behold, I have divided unto you by lot those nations that yet remain, to be an inheritance according to your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the great sea, toward the setting of the sun.


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And the Lord your God will indeed expel them from before you, and drive them out from before you; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath spoken unto you.


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But be ye very steadfast to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so as not to turn aside therefrom to the right or to the left;


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So as not to come among these nations, those that are left remaining near you; and of the name of their gods shall ye not make mention, nor cause any to swear thereby, neither shall ye serve them, nor bow yourselves down unto them;


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And the Lord drove out from before you great and mighty nations; but as for you, no man hath been able to stand up before you unto this day.


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One man of you can chase a thousand; for the Lord your God it is that fighteth for you, as he hath spoken unto you.


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For if ye do in any wise turn back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, those that are left remaining near you, and make marriages with them, and come in among them, and they among you:


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Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and stings in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.


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And, behold, I am going this day the way of all the earth; and ye know with all your heart and with all your soul, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you: all are come to pass unto you, not one thing thereof hath failed.


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But it shall come to pass, that as every good thing is come upon you, which the Lord your God spoke unto you: so will the Lord bring upon you every evil thing, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given unto you.


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When ye transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he hath commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow yourselves down to them: then will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.


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And Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel to Shechem; and he called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and they presented themselves before God.


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And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus hath said the Lord the God of Israel, On the other side of the river did your fathers dwell in old time, even Terach, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor; and they served other gods.


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And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river, and I led him throughout all the land of Canaan; and I multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.


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And I gave unto Isaac, Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.


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And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt in the manner as I have done among them; and after that I brought you out.


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And I brought your fathers out of Egypt; and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red Sea.


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And they cried unto the Lord, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and he brought the sea over them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I had done on Egypt; and ye dwelt in the wilderness many days.


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And I brought you into the land of the Emorites, that dwelt on the other side of the Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, and ye took possession of their land; and I destroyed them from before you.


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Then Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel; and he sent and called Bilam the son of Beor to curse you;


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And I would not hearken unto Bilam; but he had to bless you instead: and I delivered you out of his hand.


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And ye passed over the Jordan, and came unto Jericho; and then fought the men of Jericho against you, the Emorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I gave them up into your hand.


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And I sent before you the hornet which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Emorites: not with thy sword, and not with thy bow.


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And I gave you a land for which ye had not toiled, and cities which ye had not built, and ye dwell in them; of vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.


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Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.


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And if it be displeasing in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom ye will serve: whether the gods which your fathers that were on the other side of the river served, or the gods of the Emorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.


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For the Lord our God it is that hath brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery, and who hath done those great signs before our eyes, and preserved us upon all the way whereon we have gone, and among all the people through the midst of whom we have passed:


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And the Lord hath driven out all the nations, and the Emorites who dwelt in the land, from before us; therefore also will we serve the Lord; for he is our God.


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And Joshua said unto the people, Ye will not be able to serve the Lord; for he is a holy God; he is a watchful God; he will not have any indulgence for your transgressions and for your sins;


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If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then will he again do ye evil, and consume ye, after that he hath done you good.


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And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye yourselves have chosen for you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.


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And now put away the strange gods which are in the midst of you, and incline your heart unto the Lord the God of Israel.


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And Joshua made a covenant with the people on that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.


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And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.


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And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be among us as a witness; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spoke unto us: it shall be therefore as a witness against you, that ye may not deny your God.


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And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, one hundred and ten years old.


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And they buried him on the border of his inheritance at Timnathserach, which is on the mountain of Ephraim, on the north side of mount Gaash.


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And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who lived many days after Joshua, and who had known all the deeds of the Lord, that he had done for Israel.


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And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried in Shechem, in a parcel of the field which Jacob had bought of the sons of Chamor the father of Shechem for one hundred kessitah: and it remained the inheritance of the children of Joseph.


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And Elazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him on the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the mountain of Ephraim.


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And it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites at the first, to fight against them?


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And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, and we will fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.


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And Judah went up; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they smote <i>of</i> them in Bezek ten thousand men.


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And they found Adonibezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.


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But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.


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And Adonibezek said, Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered food under my table: as I have done, so hath God requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.


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And the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and captured it, and they smote it with the edge of the sword, and the city they set on fire.


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And afterward did the children of Judah go down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the lowlands.


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And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron; <i>now the name of Hebron was formerly Kiryatharba;</i>and they smote Sheshai, and Achiman, and Talmai.


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And he went from there against the inhabitants of Debir; and the name of Debir was formerly Kiryathsepher:


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And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Calebs younger brother, captured it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter for wife.


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And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What aileth thee?


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And she said unto him, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a dry land: give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.


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And the children of the Kenite, the fatherinlaw of Moses, went up out of the city of palmtrees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is at the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt with the people.


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And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they smote the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and devoted it. And the name of the city was called Chormah.


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And Judah captured Gazzah with its territory, and Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.


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And the Lord was with Judah; and he took possession of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.


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And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses had spoken; and he drove out thence the three sons of Anak.


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And the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem, the children of Benjamin did not drive out; but the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem until this day.


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And the watchers saw a man coming forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee kindness.


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And he showed them the entrance into the city, and they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but the man and all his family they let go free.


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And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called its name Luz: this is its name unto this day.


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Neither did Menasseh drive out <i>the inhabitants of</i> Bethshean and its towns, nor Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Yibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites succeeded to remain in this land.


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And it came to pass, when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but they did not drive them out entirely.


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Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; and the Canaanites dwelt in the midst of them at Gezer.


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Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; and the Canaanites dwelt in the midst of them, and became tributary.


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Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Akko, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Achlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Chelbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rechob;


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And the Asherites dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.


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Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; and he dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributary unto them.


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And the Emorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain; for they would not suffer them to come down into the valley;


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And the Emorites succeeded to remain on mount Cheres, in Ayalon, and in Shaalbim; but when the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, they became tributary.


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And a messenger of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, And he said, I caused you to go up out of Egypt, and I brought you unto the land which I had sworn unto your fathers; and I said, I will not break my covenant with you for ever.


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But ye for your part shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; their altars shall ye throw down; but ye have not obeyed my voice: what is this ye have done?


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And I also have said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be evil neighbors to you, and their gods shall become a snare unto you.


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And it came to pass, when the messenger of the Lord spoke these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.


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And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to take possession of the land.


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And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that lived many days after Joshua, who had seen all the great deeds of the Lord, which he had done for Israel.


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And they buried him on the border of his inheritance in Timnathcheres, in the mountain of Ephraim, on the north side of mount Gaash.


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And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers; and there arose another generation after them, who knew not the Lord, and likewise not the deeds which he had done for Israel.


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And they forsook the Lord the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they went after other gods, of the gods of the nations that were round about them, and they bowed themselves unto them, and incensed the Lord.


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And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of spoilers who spoiled them, and he sold them into the hand of their enemies round about, and they were not able any longer to stand before their enemies.


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Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.


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But also unto their judges they did not hearken; but they went astray after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers had walked in, to obey the commandments of the Lord; they did not so.


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And when the Lord raised them up judges, then was the Lord with the judge, and he delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord bethought himself because of their groaning by reason of those that oppressed them and illtreated them.


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And it came to pass, when the judge died, that they returned, and became more corrupt than their fathers, in going after other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them: they omitted nothing from their doings, and from their stubborn way.


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And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel; and he said, For the cause that this people have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice:


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So will I also for my part not drive out henceforth any man from before them out of the nations which Joshua left when he died;


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In order to prove through them the Israelites, whether they will keep the way of the Lord, to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.


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And thus did the Lord leave these nations, so as not to drive them out speedily; and he delivered them not into the hand of Joshua.


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Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to prove by them the Israelites, namely, all those who had not experienced all the wars of Canaan;


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Only in order that the future generations of the children of Israel might obtain knowledge, to teach them war; but only such as before had learned nothing thereof;


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Namely, the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Zidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt on mount Lebanon, from mount Baalchermon unto the entrance of Chamath.


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And they were left to prove by them the Israelites, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.


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And the children of Israel dwelt in the midst of the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Emorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites;


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And they took their daughters to themselves for wives, and their daughters they gave to their sons; and they served their gods.


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And the children of Israel did <i>thus</i> the evil in the eyes of the Lord, and forgot the Lord their God, and served the Bealim and the groves.


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Wherefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushanrishathayim the king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushanrishathayim eight years.


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And the children of Israel cried then unto the Lord, and the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, namely, Othniel the son of Kenaz, the younger brother of Caleb.


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And the spirit of the Lord came over him, and he judged Israel, and went out to battle: and the Lord delivered Cushanrishathayim the king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushanrishathayim.


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And the children of Israel did again the evil in the eyes of the Lord; and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done the evil in the eyes of the Lord.


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And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and they went and smote Israel, and took possession of the city of palmtrees.


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But the children of Israel cried then unto the Lord; and the Lord raised up unto them a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera a Benjamite, a man who was lamed in his right hand; and the children of Israel sent by him a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.


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But Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he girded it under his garments upon his right thigh.


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And it came to pass when he had made an end to offer the present, that he sent away the people who had borne the present.


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But he himself returned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret word unto thee, O King. And he said, Keep silence. And thereupon went out from his presence all that stood by him.


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And Ehud came in unto him; and he was sitting in the summer upper chamber, which was for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a word of God unto thee. And he arose out of his chair.


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And Ehud stretched forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body.


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And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade; for he did not draw the sword out of his body, and it passed into the fundament.


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And Ehud went forth into the anteroom, and shut the doors of the upper chamber after him, and locked them.


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He was just gone out, when his servants came; and they saw, behold, the doors of the upper chamber were locked; and they said, Surely he covereth his feet in the summer chamber.


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And they tarried till they were ashamed; and behold, he opened not the doors of the upper chamber; wherefore they took the key and opened them: and, behold, their lord was lying dead on the floor.


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And Ehud had escaped while they were tarrying, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah.


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And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew the cornet on the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountain, and he before them.


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And he said unto them, Pursue after me; for the Lord hath delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand. And they went down after him, and seized on the fords of the Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.


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And they smote of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valor; and there escaped not a man.


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And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad; and he also delivered Israel.


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And the Lord sold them into the hand of Yabin the king of Canaan, that reigned in Chazor; and the captain of his army was Sissera, who dwelt in Charoshethhagoyim.


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And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he oppressed the children of Israel with might twenty years.


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And she held her sitting under the palmtree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel on the mountain of Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.


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And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali; and she said unto him, Behold, the Lord the God of Israel hath commanded, Go and lead on toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun.


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And I will draw unto thee, to the brook Kishon, Sissera, the captain of Yabins army, and his chariots and his multitude; and I will give him up into thy hand.


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And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then will I go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go.


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And she said, I will indeed go with thee; nevertheless it will not be for thy honor, on the way which thou goest; for into the hand of a woman will the Lord deliver Sissera; and Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.


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And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up in his train ten thousand men; also Deborah went up with him.


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Now Cheber the Kenite had severed himself from the Kenites, from the children of Chobab the fatherinlaw of Moses; and he had pitched his tent as far as Elonbezaanannim, which is near Kedesh.


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And Sissera called together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Charoshethhagoyim unto the brook Kishon.


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And Deborah said unto Barak, Up! for this is the day on which the Lord hath given Sissera into thy hand; behold, the Lord is gone out before thee: so Barak went down from mount Tabor, with ten thousand men after him.


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And the Lord confounded Sissera, and all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sissera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on foot.


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And Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the army, unto Charoshethhagoyim: and all the army of Sissera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not left even one.


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But Sissera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Cheber the Kenite; for there was peace between Yabin the king of Chazor and the house of Cheber the Kenite.


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And Jael went out to meet Sissera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in unto me, fear not: and he turned in unto her into the tent, and she covered him with a blanket.


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And he said unto her, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water; for I am thirsty: and she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, and covered him up.


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And he said unto her, Stand at the door of the tent; and it shall be, that, when any man should come and ask of thee, and say, Is there any man here? thou shalt say, No.


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And Jael the wife of Cheber took thereupon the nail of the tent, and placed a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and struck the nail into his temple, and it became fastened in the ground; but he was fast asleep and weary; so he died.


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And, behold, Barak came in pursuit of Sissera, and Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou art seeking: and he came to her, and behold, Sissera was lying dead, with the nail in his temple.


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And the hand of the children of Israel became constantly heavier upon Yabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Yabin the king of Canaan.


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When depravity had broken out in Israel, then did the people offer themselves willingly; <i>therefore</i> praise ye the Lord.


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Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; Iunto the Lord will I sing; I will sing praise to the Lord, the God of Israel.


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Lord, at thy going forth out of Seir, at thy marching along out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, also the heavens dropped, also the clouds dropped water.


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The mountains melted away because of the presence of the Lord, yonder Sinai, because of the presence of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and those who travelled on roads walked through crooked bypaths.


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Desolate were the open towns in Israel, they were desolate, until that I arose, Deborah, that I arose a mother in Israel.


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They chose new gods, then was there war in the gates: was there a shield seen or a spear among forty thousand in Israel?


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My heart <i>belongeth</i> to the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people: praise ye the Lord.


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<i>Urged on</i> by the voice of those who divide <i>the flocks</i> between the watering wells, there shall they rehearse the benefits of the Lord, the benefits toward his open towns in Israel; <i>for</i> now go down <i>again</i> to the gates the people of the Lord.


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Awake, awake, Deborah! awake, awake, utter a song! up, Barak, and lead away thy captives, son of Abinoam.


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Then obtained dominion a few that had escaped for the nobles among the peoplethe Lord gave me dominion over the mighty.


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They whose root is out of Ephraim were against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, with thy armies; out of Machir came down lawgivers, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.


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And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yea Issachar, the support of Barak; into the valley he hastened down in his train; <i>but</i> at the streams of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.


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Why didst thou sit among the sheepfolds to hear the bleatings of the flocks? At the streams of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.


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Gilad abode beyond the Jordan; and Danwhy would he tarry in ships? Asher remained on the seashore, and abode near his bays.


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Zebulun is a people that jeoparded its life unto death, and Naphtalion the high places of the <i>battle</i> field.


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There came kings, <i>and</i> fought, then fought the kings of Canaan, in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: gain of money they took not away.


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The stream of Kishon swept them away, that ancient stream, the stream of Kishon: step along, O my soul, in victorious strength.


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Then were crushed the hoofs of the horses, through the prancings, the prancings of their mighty ones.


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Curse ye Meroz, saith the messenger of the Lord, yea, curse ye bitterly its inhabitants; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord among the mighty.


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Blessed above <i>other</i> women shall be Jael the wife of Cheber the Kenite, above <i>other</i> women <i>dwelling</i> in the tent may she be blessed.


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Her hand she put forth to the nail, and her right hand to the laborious workmens hammer; and she hammered Sissera, she struck his head, and crushed and smote through his temple.


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Between her feet he bent, he fell, he lay; between her feet he bent, he fell: where he had bent, there he fell down, bereft of life.


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Out of the window looked and moaned the mother of Sissera, through the lattice, Why tarrieth his chariot so long in coming? why lag the wheels of his chariot?


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Will they not find,divide booty? one maiden, two maidens for every man, a booty of colored garments for Sissera, a booty of colored embroidered garments, colored, doubleworked garments round the necks of the captives!


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Thus may perish all thy enemies, O Lord; but may those that love him be as the rising of the sun in his might. And the land had rest forty years.


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And the children of Israel did the evil in the eyes of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.


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And the hand of Midian prevailed over Israel; and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made for themselves the passes which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.


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And it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, and they went up against them;


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And they encamped against them, and destroyed the products of the earth, as far as Gazzah, and they left no sustenance for Israel, neither lamb, nor ox, nor ass.


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For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and came as locusts in multitude; and both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.


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And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.


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That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, and he said unto them, Thus hath said the Lord the God of Israel, I led you forth out of Egypt, and brought you out of the house of slavery;


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And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and I drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;


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And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God: ye shall not fear the gods of the Emorites, in whose land ye dwell; but ye have not obeyed my voice.


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And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat down under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite; and Gidon his son was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.


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And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.


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And Gidon said unto him, Pardon, my lord, if the Lord be indeed with us, why then hath all this befallen us? and where are all his wonders of which our fathers have told us, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt! But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.


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And the Lord turned toward him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: behold, I have sent thee.


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And he said unto him, Pardon my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the weakest in Menasseh, and I am the youngest of my fathers house.


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And the Lord said unto him, Because I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.


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And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy eyes, then give me a sign that thou hast been speaking with me;


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Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thy return.


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And Gidon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.


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And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and the broth pour out. And he did so.


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Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.


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And when Gidon perceived that it was an angel of the Lord, Gidon said, Alas, O Lord Eternal! because I have surely seen an angel of the Lord face to face.


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And Gidon built there an altar unto the Lord, and called it Adonayshalom <i>the Eternal of Peace:</i> unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.


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And it came to pass in the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy fathers young bullock, and the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal which belongeth to thy father, and the grove that is around it shalt thou cut down.


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And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, on the level place, and take the second bullock, and offer <i>it as</i> a burntsacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.


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And Gidon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had spoken unto him; but it came to pass, because he feared his fathers household, and the men of the city, to do it by day, that he did it by night.


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And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was overthrown, and the grove that was around it was cut down, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar which had been built.


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And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And they inquired and searched, and then said, Gidon the son of Joash hath done this thing.


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Thereupon said the men of the city unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die; because he hath overthrown the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was around it.


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But Joash said unto all that stood around him, Will ye indeed contend for Baal? will ye assist him? he that will contend for him, shall be put to death; <i>wait</i> until morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath overthrown his altar.


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And the people called him on that day Yerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath overthrown his altar.


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And all the Midianites and Amalekites and the children of the east assembled together, and went over and encamped in the valley of Yizreel.


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But the Spirit of the Lord endued Gidon, and he blew the cornet: and Abiezer assembled and followed him.


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And he sent messengers throughout all Menasseh, who also assembled and followed him; and he sent messengers through Asher, and through Zebulun, and through Naphtali, and they came up to meet them.


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Behold, I set up this fleece of wool in the threshing floor: if now there be dew on the fleece alone, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken.


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And it was so; and when he rose up early on the morrow, he squeezed the fleece together, and wrung dew out of the fleece, <i>making</i> a bowl full of water.


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And Gidon said unto God, Let not thy anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once <i>more</i>; let me have a proof, I pray thee, but this once more with the fleece; let it, I pray, be dry upon the fleece alone, and upon all the ground let there be dew.


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And God did so that night; and it was dry upon the fleece alone, and on all the ground there was dew.


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Then Yerubbaal, who is Gidon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Charod; and the camp of the Midianites was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.


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And the Lord said unto Gidon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand: lest Israel should vaunt themselves against me, saying, my own hand hath saved me.


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Now therefore, do proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilad. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and ten thousand remained.


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And the Lord said unto Gidon, The people are yet too many; let them go down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I will say unto thee, This one shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee: and of whomsoever I will say unto thee, This one shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.


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So he caused the people to go down unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gidon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as the dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that bendeth down upon his knees to drink.


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And the number of those that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people bent down upon their knees to drink water.


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And the Lord said unto Gidon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the other people go every man unto his place.


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And they took the provision of the people in their hand, and their cornets; and all the rest of Israel he dismissed, every man unto his tent; but those three hundred men he retained: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley.


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And it came to pass, during the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down into the camp; for I have delivered it into thy hand.


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And thou shalt hear what they will say; and after that shall thy hands be strengthened, and thou wilt go down unto the camp. And he went down with Purah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the camp.


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And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like the locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is by the seaside for multitude.


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And when Gidon was come, behold, a man was telling a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream, and, lo, a baked cake of barley bread was rolling round through the camp of Midian, and came unto the tent, and struck against it so that it fell, and it turned it bottom upward, and the tent thus tumbled down.


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And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gidon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; into whose hand God hath delivered Midian, and the whole camp.


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And it was, when Gidon heard the narration of the dream, and its interpretation, that he prostrated himself, and returned unto the camp of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the camp of Midian.


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And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put cornets in the hand of all of them, with empty pitchers, and torches in the pitchers.


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And he said unto them, What you see me do, do ye likewise; and, behold, when I am come to the edge of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.


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When I blow the cornet, I and all that are with me, then shall ye blow the cornets also on every side of all the camp, and say, For the Lord, and for Gidon.


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And Gidon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the edge of the camp in the bcginning of the middle watch; when they had but newly set the sentinels: and they blew the cornets, and broke the pitchers that were in their hand.


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And the three companies blew the cornets, and broke the pitchers, and seized with their left hand the torches, and with their right hand the cornets to blow; and they cried, The sword for the Lord, and for Gidon.


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And they remained standing every man in his place round about the camp; and all <i>in</i> the camp ran, and shouted, and fled.


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And as the three hundred cornets sounded, the Lord set every mans sword against his fellow, even throughout all the camp; and <i>those in</i> the camp fled as far as Bethhashittah to Zererah, up to the border of Abelmecholah, near Tabbath.


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And the men of Israel were called together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Menasseh, and they pursued after the Midianites.


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And Gidon sent messengers throughout all the mountain of Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and seize from them the waters as far as Bethbarah and the Jordan. And all the men of Ephraim assembled themselves, and seized on the waters as far as Bethbarah and the Jordan.


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And they captured two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued the Midianites; and the heads of Oreb and Zeeb they brought to Gidon from the other side of the Jordan.


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And the men of Ephraim said unto him, What is this thing that thou hast done unto us, not to call for us, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they quarrelled with him vehemently.


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And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?


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Into your hand God delivered the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what have I been able to do in comparison with you? Then was their anger abated from him, when he had spoken this speech.


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And Gidon came to the Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, and in pursuit.


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And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, a few loaves of bread unto the people that are in my train; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebach and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.


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And the princes of Succoth said, Is the sole of the foot of Zebach and Zalmunna now already in thy hand, that we should give unto thy army bread?


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And Gidon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebach and Zalmunna into my hand, then will I thresh your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.


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And he went up thence to Penuel, and spoke unto them in the same manner: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.


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And he said also unto the men of Penuel thus, When I return again in peace, I will break down this tower.


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Now Zebach and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their camps with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that had been left of all the camp of the children of the east; but those who had fallen were one hundred and twenty thousand men that drew the sword.


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And Gidon went up by the way of those that dwelt in tents, to the east of Nobach and Yogbehah, and smote the camp; but the camp thought itself secure.


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And Zebach and Zalmunna fled; but he pursued after them, and captured the two kings of Midian, Zebach and Zalmunna, and all the camp he discomfited.


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And he caught a young man of the people of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he wrote down for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy and seven men.


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And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold here are Zebach and Zalmunna, with whom ye derided me, saying, Is the sole of the foot of Zebach and Zalmunna now already in thy hand, that we should give unto thy weary men bread?


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And he took the elders of the city, and the thorns of the wilderness and briers, and chastised with them the men of Succoth.


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And he said unto Zebach and Zalmunna, What kind of men were those whom ye slew at Tabor! And they answered, As thou art, so were they; one was in form like that of the children of a king.


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And he said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the Lord liveth, if ye had spared them alive, I would not slay you.


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And he said unto Yether his firstborn, Rise up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.


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Then said Zebach and Zalmunna, Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gidon arose, and slew Zebach and Zalmunna; and he took away the crescent ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.


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And the men of Israel said unto Gidon, Rule thou over us, both thou and thy son, and thy sons son also; for thou hast delivered us out of the hand of Midian.


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And Gidon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.


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And Gidon said unto them, I would ask one request of you, that ye should give me every man the earring of his booty; for they had had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.


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And they answered, We will willingly give. And they spread out a garment, and they cast therein every man the earring of his booty.


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And the weight of the golden earrings that he had requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; besides the crescent ornaments, and eardrops, and purple garments that were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels necks.


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And Gidon made thereof an ephod, and set it up in his city, in Ophrah: and all Israel went astray after it thither; and it became a snare unto Gidon, and to his house.


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And Midian was humbled before the children of Israel, so that they lifted not up their head any more. And the country was quiet forty years in the days of Gidon.


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And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he gave him the name, Abimelech.


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And Gidon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.


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And it came to pass, when Gidon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went astray after the Bealim, and made themselves Baalberith for a god.


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And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side.


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Neither showed they kindness to the house of Yerubbaal, namely, Gidon, in accordance with all the good which he had done unto Israel.


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And Abimelech the son of Yerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mothers brothers, and spoke unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mothers father, saying,


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Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, What is better for you, either that there should rule over you seventy men, all the sons of Yerubbaal, or that there reign over you one man? and remember that I am your bone and your flesh.


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And his mothers brothers spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words; and their heart became inclined after Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.


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And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith; and Abimelech hired therewith idle and heedless persons, who followed him.


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And he came unto his fathers house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers the sons of Yeruhbaal, seventy persons, upon one stone; and there was yet left Yotham the youngest son of Yerubbaal; for he had hidden himself.


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And all the men of Shechem and all Bethmillo assembled together, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was by Shechem.


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And they told it to Yotham; and he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizzim, and he lifted up his voice, and cried; and he said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, so that God may hearken unto you.


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The trees went once forth to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olivetree, Reign thou over us.


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But the olivetree said unto them, Should I give up my fatness, wherewith through me they honor God and men, and shall I go to be promoted over the trees!


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But the figtree said unto them, Should I give up my sweetness, and my good productiveness, and go to be promoted over the trees?


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But the vine said unto them, Should I give up my fresh wine, which rejoiceth God and men, and go to be promoted over the trees!


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And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me as king over you, then come seek protection in my shadow; and if not, then let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of the Lebanon.


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And now, if ye have acted in truth and sincerity, when ye made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Yerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the merit of his hands;


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(In that my father fought for you, and cast his life far away, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;


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While ye are risen up against my fathers house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)


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If ye have thus acted in truth and sincerity with Yerubbaal and with his house this day: then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.


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But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem and Bethmillo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from Bethmillo, and devour Abimelech.


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And Yotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.


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And then did God send an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem became unfaithful toward Abimelech;


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So that the violence <i>done</i> to the seventy sons of Yerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who had slain them; and upon the men of Shechem, who had strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.


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And the men of Shechem set persons to lie in wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that passed by them on that way: and it was told unto Abimelech.


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And there came Gaal the son of Ebed with his brothers, and passed through Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.


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And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod <i>the grapes</i>, and made joyful feasts, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.


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And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Yerubbaal? and Zebul his superintendent? serve the men of Chamor the father of Shechem; for why indeed should we serve him?


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And O that some one would put this people into my power! and I would remove Abimelech. And he let it be said to Abimelech, Increase thy army, and come out.


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And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.


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And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privately, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and, behold, they incite the city to enmity against thee.


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And it shall be, in the morning, the moment the sun shineth, that thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to him as thy means may let thee.


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And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.


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And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the citygate: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambush.


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And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou regardest the shadow of the mountains as men.


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And Gaal spoke again and said, See people are coming down from the highest point of the land, and one company is coming along by the way of the grove of Meonenim.


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Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him! is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.


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And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him, and many fell slain, even as far as the entrance of the gate.


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And Abimelech remained at Arumah: and Zebul banished Gaal and his brothers, that they should not remain in Shechem.


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And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told to Abimelech.


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And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; and as he saw, and, behold, that the people were coming forth out of the city, he rose up against them, and smote them.


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And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, spread forward, and took position in the entrance of the citygate: and the two other companies spread over all that were in the fields, and smote them.


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And Ahimelech fought against the city all that day; and he captured the city, and the people that were therein he slew; and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.


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And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard this, they entered into the stronghold of the house of the god Berith.


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And Abimelech went thereupon up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from a tree, and bore it, and laid it on his shoulder; and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen that I have done, make haste, and do like me.


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And all the people also cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put the same to the stronghold, and set the stronghold over them on fire: and thus died also all the people of the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.


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But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and the women, and all the chief persons of the city, and shut the doors behind them, and went up to the roof of the tower.


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And Abimelech came up to the tower, and fought against it, and approached as far as the door of the tower to burn it with fire.


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But a certain woman cast a piece of an upper millstone upon Abimelechs head, and crushed his skull.


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Then called he hastily unto the young man that bore his armor, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that people may not say of me, A woman hath slain him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.


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Thus did God compensate the evil of Abimelech, which he had done unto his father, in slaying his seventy brothers:


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And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God bring back upon their own head; and there came upon them the curse of Yotham the son of Yerubbaal.


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And there arose after Abimelech to deliver Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountain of Ephraim.


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And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty asscolts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Chavvothyair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilad.


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And the children of Israel repeated to do the evil in the eyes of the Lord, and they served the Bealim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and they forsook the Lord, and served not him.


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And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.


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And they afflicted and oppressed the children of Israel that year; <i>and</i> for eighteen years all the children of Israel that were on the other side of the Jordan in the land of the Emorites, which is in Gilad.


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And the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sorely distressed.


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And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Bealim.


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And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Behold <i>I delivered you</i> from the Egyptians, and from the Emorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines.


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And when the Zidonians, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites did oppress you, and ye cried to me, I delivered you also out of their hand.


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Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let these deliver you in the time of your tribulation.


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And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us entirely as it seemeth good in thy eyes; only deliver us, we pray thee, this time.


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And they put away the strange gods from their midst, and served the Lord; and his soul was grieved for the trouble of Israel.


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And the children of Ammon were called together, and they encamped in Gilad. And the children of Israel also assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah.


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And the people, the princes of Gilad, said one to another, Whatever man it be that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon, shall become the head over all the inhabitants of Gilad.


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Now Yiphthach the Giladite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilad had begotten Yiphthach.


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And the wife of Gilad also bore him sons; and when the sons of the wife were grown up, they drove away Yiphthach, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in the house of our father: for the son of another woman art thou.


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And Yiphthach fled away from his brothers, and dwelt in the land of Tob; and there gathered themselves to Yiphthach idle men, and they went out with him.


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And it was so, when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilad went to fetch Yiphthach out of the land of Tob.


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And they said unto Yiphthach, Come, and become a leader unto us, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.


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And Yiphthach said unto the elders of Gilad, Did ye not hate me, and drive me away out of my fathers house? and why are ye come unto me now, when ye are in distress?


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And the elders of Gilad said unto Yiphthach, Therefore are we now come back to thee, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon; and thou shalt become unto us a head, unto all the inhabitants of Gilad.


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And Yiphthach said unto the elders of Gilad, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord give them up before me, shall I remain your head?


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And the elders of Gilad said unto Yiphthach, The Lord shall be a hearer between us, if we do not so according to thy word.


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Then went Yiphthach with the elders of Gilad, and the people appointed him over them as head and as leader; and Yiphthach spoke all his words before the Lord in Mitzpah.


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And Yiphthach sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What have I to do with thee, that thou art come unto me to fight against my land?


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And the king of the children of Ammon said unto the messengers of Yiphthach, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even unto the Yabbok, and unto the Jordan: and now restore these <i>lands</i> again in peace.


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And he said unto him, Thus hath said Yiphthach, Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon;


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For when they came up out of Egypt, Israel walked through the wilderness unto the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;


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And Israel then sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me pass, I pray thee, through thy land; but the king of Edom would not hearken; and also to the king of Moab they sent; but he would not consent: and Israel remained in Kadesh.


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Then they wandered through the wilderness, and traveled round the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came from the rising of the sun to the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon: but they came not within the border of Moab; for the Arnon is the boundary of Moab.


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And Israel sent messengers unto Sichon the king of the Emorites, the king of Cheshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land unto my place.


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But Sichon trusted not Israel to <i>let them</i> pass through his territory; and Sichon assembled all his people, and encamped in Yahaz, and fought against Israel.


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and the Lord the God of Israel delivered Sichon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them; and Israel took possession of all the land of the Emorites, the inhabitants of that country.


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And they took possession of all the territory of the Emorites, from the Arnon even unto the Yabbok, and from the wilderness even unto the Jordan.


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So now the Lord the God of Israel hath dispossessed the Emorites from before his people Israel, and shouldst thou possess it?


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Truly! that which Kemosh thy god may give thee to possess, even that canst thou possess; but whatsoever the Lord our God hath driven out from before us, even that will we possess.


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And now art thou then any better than Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?


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<i>And</i> while Israel hath dwelt in Cheshbon and in its towns, and in Aror and in its towns, and in all the cities that are along the margins of the Arnon, three hundred years: why did ye not recover them within that time?


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Whereas I myself have not sinned against thee, and thou doest me wrong to war against me: may the Lord, the Judge, decide this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.


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Nevertheless the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Yiphthach which he had sent to him.


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Then came upon Yiphthach the spirit of the Lord, and he passed through Gilad and Menasseh, and passed through Mitzpeh of Gilad, and from Mitzpeh of Gilad he passed over unto the children of Ammon.


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And Yiphthach made a vow unto the Lord, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,


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Then shall it be, that whatsoever cometh forth out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall belong to the Lord, and I will offer it up for a burntoffering.


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So Yiphthach passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them: and the Lord delivered them into his hand.


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And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou comest to Minnith, twenty cities, and unto Abelkeramin, with a very great defeat; and the children of Ammon were humbled before the children of Israel.


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And Yiphthach came to Mizpah unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his sole child; he had beside her neither son nor daughter.


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And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his garments, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast bent me down very low, and thou art one of those that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.


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And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me in accordance with what hath proceeded out of thy mouth; since the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee on thy enemies, on the children of Ammon.


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And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: Let me alone two months, that I may descend to the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I with my companions.


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And he aid, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.


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And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, and he fulfilled on her his vow which he had vowed; and she knew no man; and it became a custom in Israel,


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That the daughters of Israel went from year to year to lament for the daughter of Yiphthach the Giladite four days in the year.


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And the men of Ephraim were called together, and went northward, and said unto Yiphthach, Wherefore didst thou pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call for us to go with thee? thy house will we burn over thee with fire.


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And Yiphthach said unto them, I and my people were greatly engaged in strife with the children of Ammon; and I called you, but ye helped me not out of their hand.


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And when I saw that ye helped me not, I put my life in my hand, and passed over to the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand; and why then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?


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Then Yiphthach gathered together all the men of Gilad, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilad smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye are fugitives of Ephraim: Gilad is in the midst, between Ephraim and Menasseh.


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And the Giladites seized on the passages of the Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it came to pass, when the Ephraimites who had escaped said, Let me pass over; that the men of Gilad said unto him, Art thou an Ephrathite? and if he said, No;


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Then said they unto him, Do say, Shibboleth; but when he said, Sibboleth, and was not able to pronounce it correctly, they laid hold of him and slew him on the passages of the Jordan; and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.


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And Yiphthach judged Israel six years; and then died Yiphthach the Giladite, and was buried in <i>one of</i> the cities of Gilad.


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And he had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in for his sons from abroad: and he judged Israel seven years.


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And he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, that rode on seventy asscolts; and he judged Israel eight years.


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Then died Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mountain of the Amalekites.


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And the children of Israel did again the evil in the eyes of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.


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And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoach; and his wife was barren, and did not bear.


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And there appeared an angel of the Lord unto the woman, and he said unto her, Behold, thou art barren, and hast not born; but thou wilt conceive, and bear a son.


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For, lo, thou wilt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for a Nazarite of God shall the lad be from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.


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And the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his appearance was like the appearance of an angel of God, very terrible; but I asked him not whence he might be, and his name he did not tell me.


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And he said unto me, Behold, thou wilt conceive, and bear a son; and now thou must drink neither wine nor strong drink, and not eat anything unclean; for the child shall be a Nazarite of God from the womb until the day of his death.


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And Manoach entreated the Lord, and said, Hear me, O Lord, let the man of God, whom thou didst send, come again unto us, and instruct us what we shall do unto the child that is to be born.


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And God hearkened to the voice of Manoach; and the angel of God came again unto the woman, as she was sitting in the field; and Manoach her husband was not with her.


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And the woman made haste, and ran, and informed her husband; and she said unto him, Behold, there hath appeared unto me the man, that came unto me the other day.


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And Manoach arose, and went after his wife; and he came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spokest unto the woman? and he said, I am.


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And Manoach said, If now thy words come to pass, what shall be <i>our</i> proceeding with the child, and what shall be done unto him?


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And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoach, Of all that I have said unto the woman must she beware.


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Of any thing that cometh of the grapevine she may not eat, and wine or strong drink she may not drink, and any thing unclean she may not eat: all that I commanded her must she observe.


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And Manoach said unto the angel of the Lord, Let us, I pray thee, detain thee, and we will make a kid ready for thee.


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And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoach, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread; but if thou wilt offer a burntoffering, thou must offer it unto the Lord; for Manoach knew not that he was an angel of the Lord.


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And Manoach said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that, when thy word cometh to pass, we may do thee honor?


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And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why is it that thou wilt ask after my name, seeing it is secret?


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And Manoach took the kid and the meatoffering, and offered it upon the rock unto the Lord: and he did wondrously; and Manoach and his wife looked on.


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And it came to pass, when the flame went up from off the altar toward heaven, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar; and Manoach and his wife looked on, and they fell on their faces to the ground.


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And the angel of the Lord was no longer visible to Manoach and to his wife: then knew Manoach that he was an angel of the Lord.


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But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received from our hand a burntoffering and a meatoffering, nor would he have let us see all these things, and at this time he would not have let us hear <i>such a thing</i> as this.


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And the woman bore a son, and called his name Samson; and the child grew up, and the Lord blessed him.


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And Samson went down to Timnathah, and saw a woman in Timnathah of the daughters of the Philistines.


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And he went up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnathah of the daughters of the Philistines; and now take her to me for wife.


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Then said unto him his father and his mother, Is there not among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, a woman, that thou art going to take a wife from the Philistines, the uncircumcised? And Samson said unto his father, This one take for me; for she pleaseth me well.


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But his father and his mother knew not that it was from the Lord, that he sought but an occasion against the Philistines; and at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.


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And Samson thus went down, with his father and his mother, to Timnathah; and when they were come as far as the vineyards of Timnathah, behold, a young lion came roaring toward him.


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And the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly over him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand; but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.


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And when he returned after a time to take her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the carcass of the lion and honey likewise.


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And he took it out in his hands, and went on, eating as he was going, and came to his father and mother, and he gave unto them, and they did eat; but he told them not that out of the carcass of the lion he had taken the honey.


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And his father went down unto the woman; and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.


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And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions, and they remained with him.


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And Samson said unto them, I will now propound unto you a riddle; if ye can in anywise tell it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then will I give you thirty shirts and thirty changes of garments;


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But if ye will not be able to tell it to me, then shall ye give me thirty shirts and thirty changes of garments. And they said unto him, Propound thy riddle, that we may hear it.


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And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not solve the riddle in three days.


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And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samsons wife, Persuade thy husband, that he may solve unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy fathers house with fire: have ye invited us to impoverish us? is it not so?


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And Samsons wife wept before him, and said, Thou doest but hate me, and lovest me not: that riddle hast thou propounded unto the children of my people, and me hast thou not told <i>the solution</i>. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it to my father and to my mother, and thee shall I tell it?


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And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she had worried him: and she told <i>the solution of</i> the riddle to the children of her people.


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Then said unto him the men of the city on the seventh day before the sun was yet gone down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.


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And the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly over him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew of them thirty men, and he took their apparel, and gave the changes of garments unto the expounders of the riddle; but his anger was kindled, and he went up to his fathers house.


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And it came to pass after some time, in the time of wheatharvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, Let me go in to my wife into the chamber; but her father would not suffer him to go in.


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And her father said, I verily thought that thou didst utterly hate her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? Let her be thine, I pray thee, instead of her.


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And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put one torch between two tails in the midst;


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And he set the torches on fire, and let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both shocks and standing corn, as also oliveyards.


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Then said the Philistines, Who hath done this! And they answered, Samson, the soninlaw of the Thimnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines went up, and burnt her and her father with fire.


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And Samson said unto them, Since ye will do the like of this, I will surely be avenged on you, and after that will I cease.


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And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter; and he went down and tarried in the cleft of the rock Etam.


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And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.


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Thereupon went three thousand men of Judah down to the cleft of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines rule over us? and what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.


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And they said unto him, To bind thee are we come down, to deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not assail me yourselves.


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And they said unto him, thus, No; for we will <i>only</i> bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand; but we will in nowise kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.


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When he was come unto Lechi, the Philistines shouted against him; but the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly over him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax threads that are burnt with fire, and his bands melted from off his hands.


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And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote therewith a thousand men.


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And Samson said, With a jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men.


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And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlechi.


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And he became very thirsty, and he called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast granted through the hand of thy servant this great deliverance; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?


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But God clave a hollow place that was at Lechi, and there came forth water out of it; and he drank, and his spirit came again, and he revived; wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lechi unto this day.


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And it was told to the Gazzites, saying, Samson is come hither: and they compassed him in, and lay in wait for him all the night in the gate of the city, and held themselves quiet all the night, saying, By the time it is light in the morning will we kill him.


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And Samson lay till midnight; but he arose at midnight, and took hold of the doors of the citygate, and the two doorposts, and tore them away with the bolt, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mount that is before Hebron.


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And it came to pass after this, that he loved a woman in the valley of Shorek, whose name was Delilah.


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And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Persuade him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail over him, that we may bind him to subdue him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.


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And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou canst be bound to subdue thee.


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And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven moist cords which have not yet been dried, then shall I become weak, and be like any other of mankind.


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And the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven moist cords which had not yet been dried, and she bound him with them.


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And she had men lying in wait, sitting near her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he tore the cords, as a thread of tow is torn when it toucheth the fire; and his strength was not perceived.


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And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast deceived me, and told me lies; now do tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou canst be bound.


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And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that have never been used in work, then shall I become weak, and be like any other of mankind.


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And Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And the liers in wait were sitting in the chamber. But he tore them from off his arms like a thread.


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And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast deceived me, and told me lies; do tell me wherewith thou canst be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.


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And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awakened out of his sleep, and tore away the pin of the loom, with the web.


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And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? these three times hast thou deceived me, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.


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And it came to pass, when she worried him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul became impatient to die;


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And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, A razor hath not passed over my head; for a Nazarite of God have I been from my mothers womb; if I were shaved, my strength would depart from me, and I should become weak, and be like all other men.


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And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once; for he hath told me all his heart. Then came the lords of the Philistines up unto her, and brought the money in their hand.


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And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called a man, and caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to subdue him, and his strength departed from him.


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And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and thought, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself free. But he knew not that the Lord had departed from him.


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And the Philistines seized him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gazzah, and bound him with fetters of copper; and he had to grind in the prisonhouse.


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And the lords of the Philistines gathered themselves together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice; and they said, Our god hath delivered into our hand Samson our enemy.


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And when the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, and him who hath slain so many of us.


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And it came to pass, when their heart was merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make sport for us. And they called for Samson out of the prisonhouse; and he made sport before them; and they placed him between the pillars.


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And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me <i>to go</i> and let me feel the pillars whereupon the house is supported, that I may lean upon them.


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Now the house was full of men and women; and there were all the lords of the Philistines; and upon the roof were about three thousand men and women, that looked on while Samson made sport.


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And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord Eternal, remember me, I pray thee, and do thou strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged for one of my two eyes on the Philistines.


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And Samson threw his arms around the two middle pillars upon which the house was supported, and he leaned on them, <i>on</i> one with his right hand, and <i>on</i> the other with his left.


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And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bent <i>them</i> with might, and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead whom he slew at his death were more than those whom he had slain in his life.


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Then came down his brothers and all the house of his father, and they took him up, and carried him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the buryingplace of Manoach his father. And he had judged Israel twenty years.


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And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spokest of also in my ears,behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be my son unto the Lord.


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And he restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the Lord from my hand, for my son, to make a graven and molten image; and now I will give it back unto thee.


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Yet he gave the money back unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the silversmith, who made thereof a graven and molten image; and it was in the house of Micah.


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And the man Micah had a house of god, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.


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And there was a young man out of Bethlechemjudah of the family of Judah, but he was a Levite, and sojourned there.


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And the man departed from the city, from Bethlechemjudah, to sojourn where he could find <i>a place</i>; and he came to the mountain of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he was pursuing his journey.


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And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite from Bethlechemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find <i>a place</i>.


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And Micah said unto him, Remain with me, and become unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver for the year, and suitable apparel, and thy victuals. And the Levite went in.


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And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and remained in the house of Micah.


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Then said Micah, Now I know that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have obtained a Levite for priest.


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In those days there was no king in Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites were seeking for themselves an inheritance to dwell in; for there had not fallen to their share up to that day among the tribes of Israel a <i>sufficient</i> inheritance.


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And the children of Dan sent from their family five men from among themselves, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land. And they came to the mountain of Ephraim, as far as the house of Micah, and lodged there.


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They were just by the house of Micah, when they recognized the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?


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And he said unto them, Thus and thus hath Micah done unto me; and he hired me, and I became his priest.


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And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way on which we are going shall be prosperous.


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And the five men departed, and came to Layish, and saw the people that were therein, dwelling in security, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and no one inflicted any wrong in the land, as hereditary ruler; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no concern with any man.


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And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What <i>news bring</i> ye?


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And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and you keep still! be not slothful, to go, to enter to take possession of the land.


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When ye enter, ye will come unto a secure people, and the land is roomy; for God hath given it into your hand; a place where there is no want of anything that is on the earth.


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And there went from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girded with weapons of war.


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And they went up, and encamped in Kiryathyearim, in Judah; wherefore they called that place Machanehdan until this day; behold, it is behind Kiryathyearim.


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Then commenced the five men that had gone to spy out the country of Layish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there are in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven and molten image? and now consider what ye have to do.


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And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, unto the house of Micah, and asked him after his welfare.


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And the six hundred men who were of the children of Dan, girded with their weapons of war, remained standing by the entrance of the gate.


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And the five men that had gone to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest stood in the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men that were girded with the weapons of war.


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And these went into Micahs house, and took the graven image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image; and the priest said unto them, What are ye doing?


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And they said unto him, Be still, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and become to us a father and a priest: is it better that thou be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?


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And the priests heart became glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and came into the midst of the people.


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And they turned and went away, and placed the little ones and the cattle and the heavy things before them.


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When they were at a distance from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micahs house were called together, and they overtook the children of Dan.


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And they called unto the children of Dan, who turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou hast called out thy people?


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And he said, My god which I made have ye taken away, and the priest, and are gone away; and what have I more? and what is this ye say unto me, What aileth thee?


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And the children of Dan said unto him, Cause not thy voice to be heard among us, lest men of an embittered spirit assail thee, and thou lose thy life, with the life of thy household.


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And the children of Dan went on their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.


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And they took what Micah had made, and the priest whom he had had, and came over Layish, over a people that were quiet and secure; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and the city they burnt with fire.


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And there was no deliverer; because it was far from Zidon, and the people had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrechob. And they rebuilt the city, and dwelt therein.


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And they called the name of the city, Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: nevertheless, Layish was the name of the city at first.


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And the children of Dan erected for themselves the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Menasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the exile of the land.


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And they set up for themselves Micahs graven image, which he had made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.


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And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the lower edge of the mountain of Ephraim, who took to himself a concubine out of Bethlechemjudah.


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And his concubine became faithless unto him, and she went away from him unto her fathers house to Bethlechemjudah, and was there one year and four months.


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And then her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, to bring her back; and he had his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her fathers house; and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.


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And his fatherinlaw, the damsels father, detained him; and he abode with him three days: and they ate and drank, and lodged there.


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And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart; but the damsels father said unto his soninlaw, Comfort thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward can ye go your way.


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And they sat down, and both of them ate together and drank; and the damsels father said unto the man, Do consent, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thy heart be merry.


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Still the man rose up to depart; but his fatherinlaw urged him, and he turned back and lodged there.


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And when he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart, the damsels father said, Comfort thy heart, I pray thee, and tarry until the decline of the day: and both of them did eat.


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And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his fatherinlaw, the damsels father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, tarry all night, I pray you: behold, it is the resting time of day, lodge here, and let thy heart be merry; and you may get early tomorrow on your way, and go then to thy tent.


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But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and went away, and came as far as opposite Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and he had with him two saddled asses, and his concubine also was with him.


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When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in unto this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.


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And his master said unto him, We will not turn into one of the cities of the stranger, that are not belonging to the children of Israel; but we will pass on as far as Gibah.


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And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places; and let us lodge all night in Gibah, or in Ramah.


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And they passed on and went forward; and the sun went down unto them by Gibah, which belongeth to Benjamin.


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And they turned aside thither, to go in to lodge in Gibah; and when he went in, he sat down in the street of the city; for there was no man that brought them into his house to lodge.


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And, behold, an old man was coming from his work out of the field at evening, and this man was from the mountain of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.


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And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city: and then said the old man, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?


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And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlechemjudah toward the lower edge of the mountain of Ephraim; from there am I, and I went as far as Bethlechemjudah; but I am going to the house of the Lord; and there is no man that bringeth me into his house.


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Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there are also bread and wine for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man who is with thy servants; there is no want of any thing.


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And the old man said, Peace be with thee; only let all thy wants lie upon me; at least lodge not in the street.


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So he brought him to his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and they ate and drank.


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As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless people, beset the house round about, knocking at the door; and they said to the master of the house, the old man, thus, Bring forth the man that in come to thy house, that we may know him.


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And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, No, my brethren, I pray you, act not wickedly; since this man is once come into my house, do not this scandalous thing.


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Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; let me bring them out now, and humble ye them, and do to them what seemeth good in your eyes; but unto this man do not this scandalous thing.


text:
But the men would not hearken to him; so the man took hold of his concubine, and brought her forth unto them into the street; and they knew her, and illused her all the night until the morning; and they let her go when the day began to dawn.


text:
Then came the woman <i>home</i> in the early part of the morning, and fell down at the door of the mans house where her lord was, <i>and lay</i> till it was light.


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And when her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go on his way: behold, the woman, his concubine, was lying at the door of the house, with her hands upon the threshold.


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And he said unto her, Rise up, and let us be going; but no one answered. Then he took her upon the ass, and the man rose up, and went unto his place.


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And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, according to her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her about in all the territory of Israel.


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And it happened, that whoever saw it said, There hath no such deed been done or seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt until this day: reflect well on it, give advice, and speak.


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Then went out all the children of Israel, and the congregation was assembled together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilad, unto the Lord in Mizpah.


text:
and there presented themselves the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand men on foot that drew the sword.


text:
(And the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Speak, how did this wickedness take place?


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And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came to Gibah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to stay one night,


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When the men of Gibah rose against me, and beset the house round about against me by night; me they intended to slay; and my concubine they humbled, so that she died.


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And I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces, and sent her about throughout all the fields of the inheritance of Israel; for they had committed incest and scandal in Israel.


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And all the people then arose as one man, saying, We will not go any of us to his tent, neither will we turn any of us into his house.


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And we will take ten men out of every hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to procure provisions for the people; that they may do, when they come to Gibah of Benjamin, in accordance with all the scandalous deed that they have wrought in Israel.


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And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the divisions of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that hath been done among you?


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Now therefore deliver up the men, those worthless people, who are in Gibah, that we may put them to death, and remove evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.


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And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibah, to go out to battle with the children of Israel.


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And at that time there were numbered of the children of Benjamin out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew the sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.


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Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lame in the right hand: every one of these could sling a stone at a hair, and would not miss.


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And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew the sword: all these were men of war.


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And they arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and the children of Israel said, Who of us shall go up at first to the battle with the children of Benjamin? And the Lord said, Judah, at first.


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And the men of Israel went out to battle with Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in battlearray against them by Gibah.


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And the Children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibah, and struck down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men.


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And the people the men of Israel took courage, and set themselves again in battlearray in the place where they had arrayed themselves on the first day.


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And the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I again approach to battle with the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him.


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And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibah on the second day, and struck down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men: all these were men that drew the sword.


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Now all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Bethel, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted on that day until the evening, and offered burntofferings and peaceofferings before the Lord.


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And the children of Israel inquired of the Lord, (for there was the ark of the covenant of God in those days,


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And Phinehas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, shall I yet continue to go out to battle with the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I forbear? And the Lord said, Go up; for tomorrow will I deliver him into thy hand.


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And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibah, as at previous times.


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And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite some of the people, and kill, as at previous times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to Bethel, and the other to Gibah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.


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And the children of Benjamin said, They are defeated before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.


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And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baalthamar: and those that lay in wait of Israel rushed forth out of their place, out of the meadows of Gibah.


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And there came against Gibah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was severe; but they knew not that the evil was overtaking them.


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And the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites on that day twenty and five thousand and one hundred men: all these were those that drew the sword.


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And the children of Benjamin saw that they were defeated; for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto those that lay in wait whom they had set against Gibah.


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And those in ambush hastened, and spread themselves over Gibah; and those that lay in wait moved along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.


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Now there was an understanding between the men of Israel and those that lay in wait, that they should make an abundance of columns of smoke rise up out of the city.


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And when the men of Israel turned round in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are entirely defeated before us, as in the first battle:


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Then began the cloud to arise up out of the city as a pillar of smoke; and when the Benjamites looked behind them, behold, the flames of all the city were ascending up to heaven.


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And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed; for they saw that the evil had overtaken them.


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Therefore they turned round before the men of Israel unto the way to the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of them.


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They enclosed the Benjamites round about, chased them, they overtook them in their places of rest, as far as opposite to Gibah toward the rising of the sun.


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And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon; and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and they pursued hard after them as far as Gidom, and slew of them two thousand men.


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So that all who fell on that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword: all these were men of valor.


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But six hundred men turned and fled into the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and they abode on the rock Rimmon four months.


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And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beasts, and all that was found: also all the cities that they came upon did they set on fire.


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Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, Not any of us shall give his daughter unto Benjamin for wife.


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And the people came to Bethel, and abode there till the evening, before God, and they lifted up their voices, and wept with a great lamentation;


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And they said, Wherefore, O Lord, God of Israel, is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be lacking this day out of Israel one tribe?


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And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burntofferings and peaceofferings.


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And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord? For there had been taken the great oath concerning him that came not up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.


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And the children of Israel felt regret for Benjamin their brother, and they said, One tribe hath this day been cut down from Israel.


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What shall we do as respecteth wives for those that remain, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will give none of our daughters unto them for wives?


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And they said, what one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto the Lord to Mizpah? And, behold, there had not come to the camp a man from Yabeshgilad to the assembly.


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For the people were numbered, and, behold, there was not present a man of the inhabitants of Yabeshgilad.


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And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand persons of the valiant men, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Yabeshgilad with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.


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And this is the thing that ye shall do, every male, and every woman that hath known <i>man</i> by lying with him, shall ye devote.


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And they found among the inhabitants of Yabeshgilad four hundred young virgins that had not known man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.


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And the whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin that were on the rock Rimmon, and offered them peace.


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And Benjamin returned at that time: and they gave unto them the wives whom they had saved alive out of the women of Yabeshgilad; but they found not sufficient for them in this way.


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And the people felt regret for Benjamin; because that the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.


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And the elders of the congregation said, What shall we do for those that remain as respecteth wives; because the women have been destroyed out of Benjamin?


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And they said, Their inheritance must be secured for Benjamin, that not a tribe may be blotted out from Israel.


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Nevertheless we ourselves are not able to give them wives of our daughters; for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.


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And they said, Behold, there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh from year to year <i>at a place</i> which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.


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And look out, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh go out to dance in dances: then come ye forth out of the vineyards, and snatch you every man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go then to the land of Benjamin.


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And it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to contend with us, that we will say unto them, Be favorable unto them for our sakes; because we took not for each man his wife in the war; <i>and</i> because ye yourselves did not give them unto them, that ye should at this time be guilty.


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And the children of Benjamin did so, and took themselves wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they had stolen away; and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and rebuilt the cities, and dwelt in them.


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And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.


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And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land: and there went a certain man of Bethlechemjudah to sojourn in the fields of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.


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And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Machlon and Kilyon, Ephrathites of Bethlechemjudah. And they came into the fields of Moab, and remained there.


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And they took themselves wives of the women of Moab; the name of one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.


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And then died also both of these, Machlon and Kilyon, and the woman was left <i>deprived</i> of her two children and her husband.


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Then did she arise with her daughtersinlaw, and returned homeward from the fields of Moab; for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had thought of his people in giving them bread.


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Therefore she went forth out of the place where she had been, and her two daughtersinlaw <i>were</i> with her; and they went on their way to return unto the land of Judah.


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Then said Naomi unto her two daughtersinlaw, Go, return each one to her mothers house: may the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.


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May the Lord grant unto you that ye may find rest, each one in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.


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Then said Naomi, Return back, my daughters; why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may become your husbands?


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Return back, my daughters, go; for I am too old to become <i>the wife</i> of any man; yea, if I were even to think, I have hope; should I even obtain this night a husband, and should also bear sons:


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Would ye wait in hopes for them till they were grown? would ye debar yourselves for them so as not to become the wives of any man? not so, my daughters; for I feel much more bitter pain than you; because the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.


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And they lifted up their voice and wept a long time; and Orpah kissed her motherinlaw; but Ruth cleaved unto her.


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And she said, Behold, thy sisterinlaw is returned back unto her people, and unto her gods; return thou after thy sisterinlaw.


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But Ruth said, Urge me not to leave thee, to return from following thee; for whither thou goest, will I go; and where thou lodgest, will I lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.


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Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried; may the Lord do so to me, and may he so continue, if aught but death shall part me from thee.


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So these two went until they came to Bethlechem. And it came to pass, when they entered Bethlechem, that all the city was in commotion about them, and people said, Is this Naomi?


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And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.


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I went out full, but empty hath the Lord brought me home again; why then will ye call me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath sent me affliction?


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So did Naomi return, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughterinlaw, with her, who had returned out of the fields of Moab; and they came to Bethlechem at the beginning of the barleyharvest.


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And Naomi had a kinsman of her husbands, a mighty, valiant man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.


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And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me go, I pray thee, into the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose eyes I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.


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And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and the accident happened to her, that it was a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.


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And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlechem, and he said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they said unto him, May the Lord bless thee.


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And the young man that was appointed over the reapers answered and said, It is a Moabitish maiden that is returned with Naomi out of the fields of Moab;


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And she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather among the sheaves after the reapers: so she came, and hath remained ever from the morning even until now; it is but a little while that she hath sat down in the house.


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Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go away from this; but keep close company with my own maidens.


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Let thy eyes be on the field which they may reap, and go thou after them; behold, I have charged the young men that they shall not touch thee: and when thou art thirsty, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men may draw.


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Thereupon she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thy eyes, that thou shouldst take cognizance of me, seeing I am but a stranger?


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But Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been told me, all that thou hast done unto thy motherinlaw after the death of thy husband; and how thou hast forsaken thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy birth, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not yesterday or the day before.


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May the Lord recompense thy work, and may thy reward be complete from the Lord the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to seek shelter.


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Then said she, Let me find grace in thy eyes, my lord; for thou hast comforted me, and because thou hast spoken <i>kindly</i> unto the heart of thy handmaid, though I be not like one of thy handmaids.


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And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come near hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she seated herself beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she ate, and was satisfied, and had some left.


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Then did she arise to glean: and Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Even between the sheaves let her glean, and do not cause her to feel any shame;


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And ye shall also draw out some for her from the bundles on purpose, and leave it, that she may glean it, and ye shall not rebuke her.


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So she gleaned in the field until the evening; and when she beat out what she had gleaned, it was about an ephah of barley.


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And she took it up, and she went into the city; and her motherinlaw saw what she had gleaned; and she brought forth and gave to her what she had left over after she was satisfied.


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And her motherinlaw said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where hast thou wrought? may he that took cognizance of thee be blessed. And she told her motherinlaw with whom she had wrought, and said, The name of the man with whom I wrought today is Boaz.


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Then said Naomi unto her daughterinlaw, Blessed be he unto the Lord, who hath not withheld his kindness from the living and from the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nearly related unto us, he is one of our next kinsmen.


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And Ruth the Moabitess said, He hath also said unto me, Thou shalt keep close company with my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.


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Then said Naomi unto Ruth her daughterinlaw, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that men may not meet with thee in any other field.


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So she kept close company with the maidens of Boaz in gleaning until the end of the barleyharvest and of the wheatharvest; and she dwelt with her motherinlaw.


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Then said Naomi her motherinlaw unto her, My daughter, behold I will seek for thee a restingplace, where it may be well with thee.


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And now, behold, Boaz is our kinsman, he with whose maidens thou hast been. Lo, he is winnowing the barley tonight in the threshingfloor.


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Therefore bathe, and anoint thyself, and put thy garments upon thee, and go down to the threshingfloor; <i>but</i> make thyself not known unto the man, until he shall have finished eating and drinking.


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And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt note the place where he will lie, and thou shalt then go in, and lift up the covering that is on his feet, and lay thyself down: and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.


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And she went down unto the threshingfloor, and did in accordance with all that her motherinlaw had commanded her.


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And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart became merry; and he then went in to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came in softly, and lifted up the covering that was on his feet, and laid herself down.


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And it came to pass at midnight, that the man became terrified, and bent himself forward; and, behold, a woman was lying at his feet.


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And he said, Who art thou? And she said, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.


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And he said, Blessed be thou unto the Lord, my daughter; for thou hast shown more kindness in the last instance than the first, by not going after the young men, whether they be poor or rich.


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And now, my daughter, fear not: all that thou mayest say will I do for thee; for all <i>the men in</i> the gate of my people know that thou art a virtuous woman.


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And now, it is indeed true that I am thy near kinsman; nevertheless, there is a kinsman nearer than I.


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Remain here this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will redeem thee, well, let him redeem; but if he be not willing to redeem thee, then will I redeem thee, as the Lord liveth: lie still until the morning.


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And she lay at his feet until the morning; and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, It must not be known that this woman came into the threshingfloor.


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Also he said, Bring hither the cloak that thou hast upon thee, and lay hold of it. And she laid hold of it, and he measured six <i>measures</i> of barley, and laid it on her, and went into the city.


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And she came to her motherinlaw, and she said, How is it with thee, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.


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And she said, These six measures of barley gave he unto me; for he said to me, Thou shalt not come empty to thy motherinlaw.


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Then said she, Remain still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall out; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the matter this day.


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But Boaz went up to the gate, and sat down there; and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz had spoken came passing by; and he said unto him, Turn aside hither, sit down here, such a one. And he turned aside, and sat down.


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And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is returned out of the field of Moab, hath to sell a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelechs.


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And I thought to inform thee of it, saying, Buy it before those sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it; but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none beside thee to redeem it, and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.


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Then said Boaz, On the day that thou buyest the field out of the hand of Naomi, thou buyest it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.


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And the kinsman said, I am not able to redeem it for myself, lest I injure my own inheritance: redeem thou what I should redeem for thyself; for I am not able to redeem it.


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Now this was formerly the custom in Israel at a redeeming and at an exchanging, to confirm any thing, that a man pulled off his shoe, and gave it to the other; and this was the manner of testimony in Israel.


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And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that belonged to Elimelech, and all that belonged to Kilyon and Machlon, out of the hand of Naomi.


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And also Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Machlon, have I obtained for myself as my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.


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And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, <i>We are</i> witnesses. The Lord grant that the woman that is coming into thy house be like Rachel and like Leah, who did both build up the house of Israel: and acquire thou wealth in Ephrathah, and let thy name become famous in Bethlechem;


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And may thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Thamar bore unto Judah, through the seed which the Lord will give thee of this young woman.


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And Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in unto her: and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.


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And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, who hath not allowed to be wanting unto thee a kinsman this day: and may his name become famous in Israel.


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And may he be unto thee one who refresheth thy soul, and who nourisheth thy old age; for thy daughterinlaw, who loveth thee, hath born him, she who is better to thee than seven sons.


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And the neighboring women gave him a name, saying, There hath been a son born unto Naomi: and they called his name Obed, who is the father of Jesse, the father of David.


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And there was a certain man of Ramathayimzophim, of the mountain of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tochu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.


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And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.


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And this man went up out of his city from year to year to prostrate himself and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And at that place were the two sons of Eli, Chophni and Phinehas, priests of the Lord.


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And when the day was come that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions;


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But unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for Hannah he loved <i>greatly</i>; but the Lord had shut up her womb.


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And her rival also provoked her continually, in order to make her fret; because the Lord had shut up her womb.


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And he did so year by year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, so did she provoke her; wherefore she wept, and did not eat.


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Then said to her Elkanah her husband, Hannah, why wilt thou weep? and why wilt thou not eat? and why should thy heart be grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?


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And Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk; and Eli the priest was sitting upon a chair by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.


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And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a manchild: then will I give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.


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Now as for Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice could not be heard; wherefore Eli regarded her as a drunken woman.


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And Hannah answered and said, No, my Lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit; but neither wine nor strong drink have I drunk, and I have poured out my soul before the Lord.


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Esteem not thy handmaid as a worthless woman; for out of the abundance of my grief and vexation have I spoken hitherto.


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Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant thy petition which thou hast asked of him.


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And she said, Let thy handmaid find grace in thy eyes. The woman then went on her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no longer as before.


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And they rose up early in the morning, and prostrated themselves before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house at Ramah; and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.


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And it came to pass, after the lapse of some time, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she called his name Samuel, saying, Because from the Lord have I asked him.


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And the man Elkanah went up, with all his house, to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.


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But Hannah did not go up; for she said unto her husband, So soon as the child shall be weaned, then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and abide there for ever.


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And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth good in thy eyes; tarry until thou hast weaned him; only may the Lord fulfill his word. So the woman remained behind, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.


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And she took him up with her, when she had weaned him, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and she brought him unto the house of the Lord at Shiloh; although the child was yet young.


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And she said, Pardon, my Lord, as thy soul liveth, my Lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, to pray unto the Lord.


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Therefore also have I lent him, for my part, to the Lord; all the days that have been assigned to him shall he be lent to the Lord. And he bowed himself there before the Lord.


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And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart is glad in the Lord, my horn is exalted through the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over my enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.


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There is none holy like the Lord; for there is none beside thee; and there is not any rock like our God.


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Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth; for a God of knowledge is the Lord, and by him are actions weighed.


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They that were full hire themselves out for bread; and they that were hungry cease <i>from labor</i>: while the barren hath born seven, she that hath many children fadeth away.


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He raiseth up out of the dust the poor, from the dunghill he lifteth up the needy, to set them among nobles, and he assigneth them the throne of glory; for the Lords are the pillars of the earth, on which he hath set the world.


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He ever guardeth the feet of his pious ones, and the wicked shall be made silent in darkness; for not by strength can man prevail.


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The Lordhis adversaries will be crushed; out of heaven will he thunder upon them: the Lord will judge the ends of the earth; and he will give strength unto his king, and lift up the horn of his anointed.


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And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the lad was ministering unto the Lord before Eli the priest.


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And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered a sacrifice, the priests servant came, while <i>the man</i> was seething the flesh, with a fork with three teeth in his hand;


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And he struck it into the pan, or the kettle, or the caldron, or the pot; <i>and</i> all that the fork brought up the priest took away with it. So did they unto all the Israelites that came thither, to Shiloh.


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Even before they had yet burnt the fat, the priests servant would come, and say to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not take from thee sodden flesh, but raw.


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And if the man said unto him, They will surely presently burn the fat, and then take whatever thy soul may long for: then would he say, No; but thou shalt give it me now; and if not, I will take it by force.


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And the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord; for the men despised the offering of the Lord.


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Moreover his mother used to make him a little overcoat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.


text:
And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, May the Lord give thee seed from this woman instead of the loan who is lent to the Lord. And they went back unto his place.


text:
And truly the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. And the lad Samuel grew up before the Lord.


text:
Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons were in the habit of doing unto all Israel; and how they would lie with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.


text:
And he said unto them, Why will ye do such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.


text:
If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if against the Lord a man should sin, who shall pray for him? Nevertheless would they not hearken unto the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to slay them.


text:
And the lad Samuel was constantly growing and increasing in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.


text:
And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus hath said the Lord, Did I <i>not</i> appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaohs house?


text:
And did I <i>not</i> choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to me as a priest, to offer upon my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I <i>not</i> give unto the house of thy father all the fireofferings of the children of Israel?


text:
Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at my meatoffering, which I have commanded in <i>my</i> habitation? and <i>why</i> honoredst thou thy sons above me, to fatten yourselves with the first of every offering of Israel my people?


text:
Therefore saith the Lord the God of Israel, I had indeed said, Thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever; but now, saith the Lord, Be it far from me; for those that honor me will I honor, and those that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.


text:
Behold, days are coming, that I will hew off thy arm, and the arm of thy fathers house, so that there shall not be an old man in thy house.


text:
And thou shalt behold a rival in my habitation, in all that by which he will do good for Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thy house in all times.


text:
And yet I will not cut off the men descended from thee from my altar, to consume thy eyes, and to grieve thy soul: and all the increase of thy house shall die as <i>vigorous</i> men.


text:
And this shall be unto thee the sign, that shall happen on thy two sons, on Chophni and Phinehas: On one day shall they, both of them, die.


text:
And I will raise up to me a faithful priest, who shall do in accordance with what is in my heart and in my mind; and I will build for him an enduring house; and he shall walk before my anointed in all times.


text:
And it shall come to pass, that whoever is left in thy house shall come to bow down to him for a gera of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Attach me, I pray thee, unto one of the priestly offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.


text:
And the lad Samuel was ministering unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was scarce in those days: prophecy was not extended.


text:
And it came to pass one day, when Eli was lying down in his place, and his eyes had begun to grow dim, he could not see;


text:
And the lamp of God had not yet gone out, while Samuel was lying down in <i>the hall of</i> the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was;


text:
And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he said, I did not call: lie down again. And he went and lay down.


text:
And the Lord continued to call again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I did not call, my son: lie down again.


text:
And the Lord continued to call, Samuel, the third time; and he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli then perceived that the Lord was calling the lad.


text:
And Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down; and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. And Samuel went and lay down in his place.


text:
And the Lord came, and placed himself, and called as at previous times, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said, Speak; for thy servant heareth.


text:
And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.


text:
On that day will I fulfill on Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin and finish.


text:
And I tell him that I will judge his house for ever; for the iniquity that he knew that his sons were drawing a curse on themselves, and he restrained them not.


text:
And therefore have I sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Elis house shall not be atoned for with sacrifice or meatoffering for ever.


text:
And Samuel lay until the morning, when he opened the doors of the house of the Lord; and Samuel feared to tell the vision unto Eli.


text:
And he said, What is the word which he hath spoken unto thee? do not, I pray thee, conceal it from me: may God do to thee thus, and continue to do so, if thou conceal any thing from me of all the word that he hath spoken unto thee.


text:
And Samuel told him all the words, and concealed nothing from him. And he said, He is the Lord: let him do what seemeth good in his eyes.


text:
And Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, and he did not let fall any one of all his words to the ground.


text:
And thus knew all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba that Samuel was accredited as a prophet of the Lord.


text:
And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh; for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.


text:
And the word of Samuel became known to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenhaezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.


text:
And the Philistines put themselves in battlearray against Israel; and the battle became general, and Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew on the battleground, in the field, about four thousand men.


text:
And when the people were come back into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us this day before the Philistines? Let us bring over to us out of Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that it may come in the midst of us, and deliver us out of the hand of our enemies.


text:
So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought away from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who dwelleth over the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Chophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.


text:
And it happened when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, that all Israel set up a great shout, so that the earth trembled.


text:
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.


text:
And the Philistines were afraid; for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for the like of this hath not been, yesterday or the day before.


text:
Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with every plague in the wilderness.


text:
Be strong, and act like men, O Philistines, so that ye become not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been servants to you: therefore act like men, and fight.


text:
And the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were smitten, and they fled every man unto his tent: and the defeat was very great; and there fell of Israel thirty thousand men on foot.


text:
And there ran a man of Benjamin from the battlefield, and came to Shiloh on the same day, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head.


text:
And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting upon a chair by the wayside watching; for his heart was anxious for the ark of God. And when the man came to tell it in the city, all the city cried out.


text:
And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this multitude? And the man came in hastily, and told it to Eli.


text:
And the man said unto Eli, I am the person that came from the battlefield, and I myself fled from the battlefield today. And he said, What was it that took place, my son?


text:
And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath also been a great slaughter among the people, and also thy two sons, Chophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God hath been taken.


text:
And it came to pass, when he mentioned the ark of God, that he fell from off the chair backward by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken, and he died; for the man was old, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.


text:
And his daughterinlaw, the wife of Phinehas, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings concerning that the ark of God had been taken, and that her fatherinlaw and her husband were dead, she sank down and gave birth; for her pains came suddenly upon her.


text:
And at the moment of her dying, the women that stood around her spoke <i>unto her</i>, Fear not; for a son hast thou born. But she answered not, nor did she take it to heart.


text:
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, Glory is departed from Israel; because of the taking away of the ark of God, and because of her fatherinlaw and her husband.


text:
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.


text:
And when the people of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was lying upon his face on the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him again in his place.


text:
And when they arose early on the morning of the following day, behold, Dagon was lying upon his face on 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 fish portion was left on him.


text:
Therefore do the priests of Dagon, and all that come into Dagons house, not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod even until this day.


text:
And the hand of the Lord became heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with hemorrhoids, even Ashdod and its territory.


text:
And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not remain with us; for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our God.


text:
And they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be removed unto Gath. And they removed the ark of the God of Israel thither.


text:
And it happened, after they had removed it, that the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great confusion; and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had hemorrhoids in their secret parts.


text:
And they sent away the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have removed to us the ark of the God of Israel, to slay us and our people.


text:
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, that it may return to its own place, so that it may not slay us, and our people; for there was a confusion of death throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.


text:
And the people that did not die were smitten with the hemorrhoids; and the lamentation of the city went up to heaven.


text:
And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? let us know wherewith we shall send off it to its place.


text:
And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not away empty; but ye must to a certainty return him a trespassoffering: then will ye be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.


text:
And they said, What shall be the trespassoffering that we shall return to him? And they answered, According to the number of the lords of the Philistines, five golden hemorrhoids, and five golden mice; for one plague affected them all, and your lords.


text:
Therefore make images of your hemorrhoids, and images of your mice that devastate the land; and give glory unto the God of Israel: perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.


text:
And why will ye harden your heart, just as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their heart? Did not they, when he had wrought wonderful deeds among them, dismiss them, and they departed?


text:
And now make a new wagon, and take two milchcows, on which there hath come no yoke, and harness the cows to the wagon, and bring their calves home away from them:


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And take the ark of the Lord, and place it into the wagon; and the articles of gold, which ye return him as a trespassoffering, ye must put in a casket alongside of it; and then send it away, that it may go.


text:
And then see, if it go up by the way to its own boundary, to Bethshemesh, then hath he done us this great evil; but if not, then shall we know that not his hand hath smitten us; it is a chance which hath happened to us.


text:
And the men did so; and they took two milchcows, and harnessed them to the wagon, and their calves they shut up at home:


text:
And they placed the ark of the Lord in the wagon, and the casket with the mice of gold and images of their hemorrhoids.


text:
And the cows went straight forward on the way on the road to Bethshemesh: on one highway they did go along, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Bethshemesh.


text:
And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and when they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it.


text:
And the wagon came to the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite, and stood still there; and there was a great stone; and they split the wood of the wagon, and the cows they offered as a burntoffering unto the Lord.


text:
And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the casket that was with it, wherein were the articles of gold, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Bethshemesh offered buntofferings and sacrificed sacrifices on the same day unto the Lord.


text:
And these are the golden hemorrhoids which the Philistines returned as a trespassoffering unto the Lord: For Ashdod one, for Gazzah one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one.


text:
And the golden mice were according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines under the five lords, from the fortified city, down to the open village, even unto the great stone whereon they had set down the ark of the Lord, and which is unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.


text:
And he smote among the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, namely, he smote among the people seventy men and fifty thousand men: and the people mourned because the Lord had caused among the people a great slaughter.


text:
And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? and to whom shall it go up away from us?


text:
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiryathyearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord: come ye down, and fetch it up to you.


text:
And the men of Kiryathyearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it unto the house of Abinadab on the hill, and Elazar his son they sanctified to guard the ark of the Lord.


text:
And it came to pass, from the time the ark remained in Kiryathyearim, and the time was long, and it was twenty years: that all the house of Israel followed anxiously after the Lord.


text:
And Samuel said unto all the house of Israel, as followeth, If with all your heart ye do return unto the Lord, then put away the gods of the stranger and the Ashtaroth from your midst, and direct your heart unto the Lord, and serve him alone: and then will he deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.


text:
And Samuel said, Assemble all Israel together at Mizpah, and I will pray in your behalf unto the Lord.


text:
And they assembled themselves together at Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.


text:
And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had assembled themselves at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.


text:
And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Do not abstain, so as not to cry for us unto the Lord our God, that he may help us out of the hand of the Philistines.


text:
And Samuel took one sucking lamb, and offered it for an entire burntoffering unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord in behalf of Israel; and the Lord answered him.


text:
And as Samuel was offering up the burntoffering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the Lord thundered with a loud noise on that day over the Philistines, and brought them into confusion, and they were smitten before Israel.


text:
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, as far as below Bethcar.


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And Samuel took one stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenhaezer, saying, As far as this hath the Lord helped us.


text:
So were the Philistines humbled, and they came no more into the territory of Israel; and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.


text:
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel came again to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath, and their territory did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Emorites.


text:
And he went from year to year and traveled in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all these places.


text:
And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar unto the Lord.


text:
And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beersheba.


text:
But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.


text:
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways: now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.


text:
But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.


text:
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they may say unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, but me have they rejected, that I should not reign over them.


text:
In accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, when they forsook me, and served other gods: so do they also unto thee.


text:
And now hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that will reign over them.


text:
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that will reign over you: Your sons will he take, and appoint them for himself with his chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will have to run before his chariot;


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And to appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.


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And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, yea the best, will he take, and give them to his servants.


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And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give <i>the same</i> to his officers, and to his servants.


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And your menservants, and your maidservants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ <i>them</i> for his work.


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And ye will cry out on that day because of your king whom ye will have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.


text:
Nevertheless the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be over us;


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That we also may ourselves be like all the nations: and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.


text:
And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.


text:
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiach, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.


text:
And he had a son whose name was Saul, young and handsome; and there was not a man among the children of Israel handsomer than he: from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.


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And there were lost the asses belonging to Kish, Sauls father; and Kish said to Saul his son, Do take with thee one of the servants, and arise, go seek the asses.


text:
And he passed through the mountain of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found <i>them</i> not; then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there was nothing there; and he passed through the land of Benjamin, but they found them not.


text:
When they were come in the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father relinquish the care for the asses, and become anxious for us.


text:
And the other said unto him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honored; all that he ever saith will surely come to pass: now let us go thither; perhaps he can tell us our way that we should go.


text:
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we should go, what shall we bring to the man? for the bread is spent out of our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we with us?


text:
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; and I will give this to the man of God, that he may tell us our way.


text:
In former times it was custom in Israel, that when a man went to inquire of God, he said thus, Come, and let us go as far as the seer; for the Prophet of the present day was in former times called a Seer.


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Then said Saul to his servant, Thy word is good: come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.


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As they went up the ascent to the city, they found some maidens going out to draw water; and they said unto them, Is the seer here?


text:
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for this day came he to the city; because the people have a sacrifice today on the highplace;


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As soon as ye are come into the city, ye will straightway find him, before yet he can go up to the highplace to eat; for the people will not eat until he be come, because he always blesseth the sacrifice; afterward eat those that are invited; and now go you up; for just today will ye surely find him.


text:
And they went up into the city. They were entering into the city, when, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the highplace.


text:
About this time tomorrow will I send unto thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him as chief over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have beheld my people, because their cry is come unto me.


text:
And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord addressed him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to thee, This one shall rule over my people.


text:
And Saul drew near to Samuel within the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where is the house of the seer.


text:
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the highplace, and ye shall eat with me today; and I will let thee go in the morning, and all that is in thy heart will I tell thee.


text:
And as for thy asses that were lost unto thee this day three days ago, do not set thy heart on them; for they have been found. And to whom belongeth all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not to thee, and to all thy fathers house?


text:
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a son of Benjamin, of one of the smallest tribes of Israel? and <i>is not</i> my family the least of all the families of the tribes of Benjamin? wherefore then hast thou spoken to me such thing?


text:
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the apartment; and he assigned them a place at the head of the invited guests, who were about thirty persons.


text:
And Samuel said unto the cook, Hand here the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Put it away by thee.


text:
And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul; and he said, Behold what is left! set it before thee, and eat; for unto this time hath it been kept from thee, since I said, I have invited the people. And Saul ate with Samuel on that day.


text:
And they got up early; and it came to pass when the morningdawn arose, that Samuel called Saul to the roof, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out, both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.


text:
As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Say to the servant that he pass on before us,and he passed on,but thou remain standing a while, and I will let thee hear the word of God.


text:
And Samuel took a flask of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Behold, it is because the Lord hath anointed thee over his inheritance as chief.


text:
When thou goest this day away from me, thou wilt find two men who are now by Rachels sepulchre, on the boundary of Benjamin at Zelzach; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath given up the matter of the asses, and is anxious for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?


text:
Then shalt thou go on forward from there, and thou shalt come as far as the grove of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:


text:
And they will ask thee after thy welfare, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou must take from their hand.


text:
After that shalt thou come to the hill of God, where the outposts of the Philistines are; and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou wilt meet a company of prophets coming down from the highplace, having before them a psaltery, and a tambourine, and a pipe, and a harp; and they will be prophesying;


text:
And the Spirit of the Lord will suddenly come over thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and thou shalt be changed into another man.


text:
And it shall be, that, when these signs are come unto thee, then do thou what thy hand may be able to effect; for God is with thee.


text:
And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burntofferings, <i>and</i> to sacrifice sacrifices of peaceofferings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and then will I tell thee what thou shalt do.


text:
And it happened, that, as he turned his back to go away from Samuel, God changed his heart into another; and all these signs came to pass on that same day.


text:
And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came suddenly over him, and he prophesied in the midst of them.


text:
And it came to pass, when all that knew him before saw, that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then said the people one to another, What is this that hath happened to the son of Kish? is Saul also among the prophets?


text:
And one of that place answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?


text:
And Sauls uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither were ye gone? And he said, To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were nowhere, we went to Samuel.


text:
And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses had been found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel had spoken, he told him not.


text:
And he said unto the children of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord the God of Israel, I brought up Israel from Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you;


text:
And ye for your part have this day rejected your God, he who hath saved you out of all your misfortunes and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nevertheless, thou must set a king over us: and now present yourselves before the Lord according to your tribes, and according to your thousands.


text:
And he caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near according to its families, and the family of Matri was seized, and then was seized Saul the son of Kish: and they sought him, but he could not be found.


text:
And they inquired again of the Lord, Is the man yet come hither? And the Lord said, Behold, he hath hidden himself among the vessels.


text:
And they ran and fetched him thence, and he placed himself erect in the midst of the people, and he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.


text:
And Samuel said to all the people, Have ye seen him whom the Lord hath made choice of, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, Long live the king.


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Then did Samuel speak to the people the rights of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it down before the Lord. And Samuel sent away all the people, every man to his house.


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And Saul also went to his home to Gibah; and there went with him a large crowd, whose heart God had touched.


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But the worthless men said, In what can this help us? And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he acted as though he were deaf.


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Then came up Nachash the Ammonite, and encamped against Yabeshgilad: and all the men of Yabesh said unto Nachash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.


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And Nachash the Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that ye all have put out the right eye, that I may lay it as a reproach upon all Israel.


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And the elders of Yabesh said unto him, Grant us seven days respite, that we may send messengers throughout all the boundary of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, will we come out to thee.


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And the messengers came to Gibah of Saul, and spoke the words in the ears of the people; and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.


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And, behold, Saul was coming after the herds out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Yabesh.


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And the spirit of God came suddenly over Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was kindled greatly,


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And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them about throughout all the boundary of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, Whosoever goeth not forth after Saul and after Samuel, shall have his herds thus treated. And the dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they went out as one man.


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And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.


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And they said unto the messengers that were come, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Yabeshgilad, Tomorrow shall ye have help, when the sun shineth hot. And the messengers came and told it to the men of Yabesh; and these were glad.


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And the men of Yabesh said, Tomorrow will we go out unto you, and ye can do unto us in accordance with all that seemeth good in your eyes.


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And it happened on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and they smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that those that remained were scattered, and no two among them were left together.


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And the people said unto Samuel, Who is there that saith, Shall Saul reign over us? give up the men, and we will put them to death.


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And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death on this day; for today the Lord hath wrought deliverance in Israel.


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And Samuel said to the people, Come and let us go to Gilgal, and renew there the choice of the king.


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And all the people went to Gilgal; and they appointed there Saul as king before the Lord in Gilgal; and they sacrificed there sacrifices of peaceofferings before the Lord; and Saul with all the men of Israel rejoiced there very greatly.


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And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and I have set a king over you.


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And now, behold, the king is walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded; and my sons, behold, they are with you; and I have walked before you from my youth even until this day.


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Behold, here am I; testify against me in the presence of the Lord, and in the presence of his anointed: Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or from whose hand have I received any ransom so that I withdrew my eyes from him? and I will restore it you.


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And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor hast thou oppressed us, and thou hast not taken from any mans hand the least.


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And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found in my hand the least: and they answered, He is witness.


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And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord who did <i>wonders through</i> Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.


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And now stand up, that I may hold judgment with you before the Lord concerning all the benefits of the Lord, which he hath done to you and to your fathers.


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When Jacob was come into Egypt, then did your fathers cry unto the Lord, and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and caused them to dwell in this place.


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And when they forgot the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sissera, the chief of the host of Chazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they made war against them.


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And they cried <i>then</i> unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served the Bealim and the Ashtaroth; and now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.


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And the Lord sent Yerubbaal, and Bedan, and Yiphthach, and Samuel, and he delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, so that ye dwelt safely.


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But when ye saw that Nachash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, No; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God is your king.


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And now here is the king whom ye have chosen, whom ye have asked for! and, behold, the Lord hath set over you a king.


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If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and will not rebel against the will of the Lord: then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God.


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But if ye will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, and rebel against the will of the Lord: then will the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.


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Is there not wheatharvest today? I will call unto the Lord, and he will send thunders and rain; and ye will <i>thus</i> perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done, in the eyes of the Lord, to ask for yourselves a king.


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And Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunders and rain on that day: and all the people feared greatly the Lord and Samuel.


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And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray in behalf of thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we may not die; for we have added unto all our sins yet this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.


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And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not; ye have indeed done all this evil: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, and serve ye the Lord with all your heart;


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And turn ye not aside; for then would ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; because they are vain.


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For the Lord will not forsake his people for the sake of his great name; because it hath pleased the Lord to make you a people unto himself.


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Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray in behalf of you; but I will teach you the good and the right way:


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Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for see what great things he hath done with you.


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Saul chose for himself three thousand men out of Israel; and there were with Saul two thousand in Michmash and on the mountain of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent away every man to his tents.


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And Jonathan smote the outpost of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the cornet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear it.


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And all Israel heard it, saying, Saul hath smitten the outpost of the Philistines, and the Israelites also have put themselves in illfavor with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.


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And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude; and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.


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And when the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, <i>for the people were oppressed,</i> then did the people hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in strongholds, and in pits.


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And some of the Hebrews passed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilad. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him hastily.


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And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed; but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattering themselves from him.


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And Saul said, Bring hither to me the burntoffering and the peaceofferings. And he offered the burntoffering.


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And it came to pass, that, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burntoffering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.


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And Samuel said, What hast thou done: And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattering themselves from me, whereas thou camest not at the appointed day, and the Philistines are gathering themselves together at Michmash;


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And I said, The Philistines will now come down unto me to Gilgal, and I have not yet made supplication unto the Lord: wherefore I forced myself, and offered the burntoffering.


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And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he had commanded thee; for now would the Lord have established thy government over Israel for ever.


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But now thy government shall not endure: the Lord hath sought out for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath ordained him to be chief over his people; because thou hast not kept what the Lord had commanded thee.


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And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal unto Gibah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were to be found with him, about six hundred men.


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And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were to be found with them, were lying in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines were encamped in Michmash.


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And the troop of freebooters went out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned into the way to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;


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And another company turned into the way to Bethchoron; and the other company turned into the way to the frontier that looketh over the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.


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Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, So that the Hebrews shall not make themselves swords or spears.


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But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his ploughshare, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.


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And they used a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the threepronged forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.


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So it came to pass on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan; but they were found with Saul and with Jonathan his son.


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Now it happened one day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines outpost, that is on the other side yonder. But unto his father he told nothing.


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And Saul tarried in the lower part of Gibah under the pomegranate tree which is by Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men.


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And Achiyah, the son of Achitub, the brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wore the ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.


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And between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the outpost of the Philistines, there was a sharp point of rock on the one side, and a sharp point of rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.


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And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the outpost of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us; for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by means of many or by means of few.


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And his armorbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.


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If they say thus unto us, Stand still until we come to you: then will we remain standing in our places, and will not go up unto them.


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But if they say thus, Come up unto us: then will we go up; for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand; and this shall be unto us the sign.


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And when both of them showed themselves unto the outpost of the Philistines, the Philistines said, Behold, Hebrews are coming forth out of the holes wherein they have hidden themselves.


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And the men of the outpost addressed Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will let you know something. Then said Jonathan unto his armorbearer, Come up after me; for the Lord hath given them up into the hand of Israel.


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And Jonathan then ascended upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan, and his armorbearer was killing after him.


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And that first defeat, which Jonathan and his armorbearer caused, was about twenty men, within about the half of a field, which a yoke of oxen might plough.


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And there arose a terror in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the outposts, and the freebooters, they also were terrified, and the earth quaked; and it became a very great terror.


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And the watchers of Saul in Gibah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude became scattered, and ran hither and thither.


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Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Muster now, and see who is gone away from us. And they mustered, and, behold, there was neither Jonathan nor his armorbearer.


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And Saul said unto Achiyah, Bring hither the ark of God; for the ark of God was on that day with the children of Israel.


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And it happened, while Saul was speaking unto the priest, that the confusion which was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased more and more: And Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thy hand.


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And Saul and all the people that were with him were called together, and they came to the battle; and, behold, the sword of every man was against his fellow, the disorder being very great.


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And the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as before that time, those namely who had gone up with them, were in the camp round about; but these also resolved to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.


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And all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves on the mountain of Ephraim, heard that the Philistines had fled; and they also followed hard after them in the battle.


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And the men of Israel were hard urged that day; and Saul adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that will eat food until the evening, until I have been avenged on my enemies. And the whole people tasted thus no food.


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And <i>the men of</i> all the land came to a forest; and there was honey upon the surface of the field.


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And when the people were come into the forest, behold, there was a stream of honey; but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.


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But Jonathan had not heard his father charging the people with the oath; he therefore put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and dipped it in a honeycomb, and carried his hand again to his mouth; and his eyes became clear.


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Then commenced one of the people, and said, Thy father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that will eat food this day; though the people were faint.


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Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how my eyes become clear, because I have tasted a little of this honey.


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How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely this day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for would there not have been now a greater defeat among the Philistines?


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And they smote on that day among the Philistines from Michmash to Ayalon; and the people were very faint.


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And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and young steers, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat upon the blood.


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And they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people are sinning against the Lord, in eating upon the blood. And he <i>then</i> said, Ye have acted treacherously: roll <i>hither</i> unto me this day a great stone.


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And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring near unto me every man his ox, and every man his lamb, and slaughter here, and eat; and sin not against the Lord in eating by the blood. And all the people brought near every man his ox by his hand that night, and slaughtered <i>them</i> there.


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And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morninglight, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good in thy eyes. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.


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And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not on that day.


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And Saul said, Draw ye near hither all the chief of the people: and know and see through what this sin hath happened this day.


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For, as the Lord liveth, who saveth Israel, that if it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But no one answered him among all the people.


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Then said he unto all Israel, Ye shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good in thy eyes.


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And Saul said unto the Lord, God of Israel, O, show forth the perfect truth. And Jonathan and Saul were seized; but the people came forth <i>free</i>.


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Then said Saul to Jonathan, Do tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste with the end of the staff that was in my hand a little honey: lo, I am willing to die.


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And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? This shall not be: as the Lord liveth, there shall not fall one hair of his head to the ground; for with God hath he wrought this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, and he died not.


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So Saul strengthened himself in the government over Israel; and he fought on every side against all his enemies, 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 himself, he caused terror.


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And he gathered an army, and he smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those that spoiled them.


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Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Yishvi, and Malkishua: and the names of his two daughtersthe name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.


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And the name of Sauls wife was Achinoam, the daughter of Achimaaz: and the name of the captain of his army was Abner, the son of Ner, Sauls uncle.


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And the war against the Philistines was violent all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto himself.


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And Samuel said unto Saul, Me did the Lord send to anoint thee as king over his people, over Israel; and now hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he lay in wait for him on the way, when he came up from Egypt.


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Now go and smite Amalek, and devote all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and lamb, camel and ass.


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And Saul ordered the people to assemble, and he numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand of the men of Judah.


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And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from the midst of the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; whereas ye acted kindly with all the children of Israel, at their coming up out of Egypt. And the Kenites departed from the midst of the Amalekites.


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And he caught Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and all the people he devoted to the edge of the sword.


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But Saul together with the people had pity on Agag, and on the best of the flocks, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the fat lambs, and all that was good, and they would not destroy them; but all the cattle that was of little value and weak, that they destroyed.


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I repent that I have set up Saul as king; for he hath turned back from following me, and my word hath he not performed: and it displeased Samuel, and he cried unto the Lord all the night.


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And Samuel rose up early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told to Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set himself up a monument, and then went about, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal.


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And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou unto the Lord, I have performed the word of the Lord.


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And Samuel said, What is then this bleating of the flocks in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?


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And Saul said, From the Amalekites have they brought them; because the people had pity on the best of the flocks and of the oxen, in order to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest have we destroyed.


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And Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord said to me this night: and he said unto him, Speak.


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And Samuel said, Is it not that, however little thou wast in thy own eyes, thou art the head of the tribes of Israel? and the Lord anointed thee as king over Israel?


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And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and thou shalt fight against them until they be consumed.


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Wherefore then didst thou not hearken unto the voice of the Lord, and didst fly upon the spoil, and didst the evil in the eyes of the Lord?


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And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have fully hearkened unto the voice of the Lord; and I went on the way which the Lord had sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek; and the Amalekites have I destroyed.


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And the people took of the spoil, of the flocks and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.


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And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as much delight in burntofferings and in sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to attend more than the fat of the rams.


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For the sin of witchcraft is rebellion, and idolatry and imageworship, stubbornness; inasmuch as thou hast despised the word of the Lord, he hath also despised thee that thou shalt not be king.


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And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the will of the Lord, and thy words; because I feared the people, and I hearkened to their voice.


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And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; for thou didst despise the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath despised thee, that thou shalt not be king over Israel.


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And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from off thee this day, and hath given it to thy associate, who is better than thou.


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And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.


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And he said, I have sinned; <i>yet</i> honor me now, I pray thee, in the presence of the elders of my people, and in the presence of Israel, and return with me, that I may prostrate myself unto the Lord thy God.


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And Samuel said, Bring ye hither unto me Agag the king of the Amalekites: and Agag came unto him cheerfully; and Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.


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And Samuel said, As thy sword did make women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women; and Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.


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And Samuel did not see Saul any more until the day of his death; because Samuel mourned for Saul; and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.


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And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him so as not to reign over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlechemite; for I have selected among his sons unto myself a king.


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And Samuel said, How shall I go? if Saul should hear it, he would kill me. And the Lord said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, To sacrifice unto the Lord am I come.


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And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let thee know what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anoint unto me the one whom I will say unto thee.


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And Samuel did that which the Lord had spoken, and came to Bethlechem. And the elders of the town came hastily to meet him, and said, Peace to thee at thy coming.


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And he said, Peace: to sacrifice unto the Lord am I come; sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.


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And it came to pass, when they came, that he saw Eliab, and said, Surely the Lords anointed is <i>here</i> before him.


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But the Lord said unto Samuel, Regard not his appearance, nor the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for not what man looketh on; for man looketh on the eyes, but the Lord looketh on the heart.


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Then Jesse called Abinadab, and caused him to pass before Samuel. And he said, This one also hath the Lord not chosen.


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And Jesse caused seven of his sons to pass before Samuel: and Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not made choice of these.


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And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are there not more young men? And he said, There is yet left behind the youngest, and, behold, he is feeding the flocks. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he have come hither.


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And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, having withal handsome eyes, and being of a goodly appearance. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.


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Then took Samuel the horn of oil, and anointed him from among his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came suddenly upon David from that day and forward. And Samuel then rose up, and went to Ramah.


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Let our Lord but say <i>the word</i>, and thy servants, now before thee, will seek out a man, who is skilful as a player on the harp; and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, that thou mayest be well.


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And Saul said unto his servants, Select for me, I pray you, a man that can play well, and bring him to me.


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Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlechemite, who is skilful as a player, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and intelligent in speech, and a person of a good form, and the Lord is with him.


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And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them through David his son unto Saul.


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And David came to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.


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And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my eyes.


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And it came to pass, when the spirit of God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand; so Saul became relieved, and he felt well, and the evil spirit departed from him.


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And the Philistines gathered together their camps to battle, and they gathered themselves together at Sochoh, which belongeth to Judah; and they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, at Ephessdammim.


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And Saul and the men of Israel gathered themselves together, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and put themselves in battlearray opposite to the Philistines.


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And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and the Israelites stood on a mountain on the other side: and the valley was between them.


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And there went out the champion out of the camp of the Philistines, Goliath of Gath was his name, whose height was six cubits and a span.


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And he had a helmet of copper upon his head, and he was clothed with a scaly coat of mail; and the weight of the coat of mail was five thousand shekels of copper.


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And the staff of his spear was like a weavers beam; and the blade of his spear <i>weighed</i> six hundred shekels of iron: and the shieldbearer was walking before him.


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And he stood and calleth unto the arrays of Israel, and said unto them, Why will ye come out to put yourselves in battlearray? Behold: I am the Philistine, and ye are servants to Saul! select for yourselves one man, and let him come down to me;


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If he be able to fight with me, and he kill me, then will we be unto you as servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be unto us as servants, and ye shall serve us.


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And the Philistine said, I have defied the arrays of Israel this day; give me a man, and let us fight together.


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When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were disheartened, and became greatly afraid.


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Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlechemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was old in the days of Saul, belonging to the persons <i>of high esteem</i>.


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And the three eldest sons of Jesse were gone following Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that were gone to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and the next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.


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And Jesse said unto David his son, Take, I pray thee, for thy brothers an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brothers;


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And these ten cheeses shalt thou bring unto the captain of the thousand, and inquire of thy brothers how they fare, and take away their pledge.


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Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.


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And David rose up early in the morning, and gave up the flocks to a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the entrenchment, as the host was going forth in battlearray, and shouted the battlecry.


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And David left the articles which he had on him in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran into the array, and came and asked of his brothers after their welfare.


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And as he was speaking with them, behold, there came up the champion, Goliath the Philistine, by name, of Gath, out of the battlearrays of the Philistines, and spoke in accordance with these same words: and David heard it.


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And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is coming forth? for to defy Israel is he coming forth; and it shall be, that the man who killeth him,him will the king enrich with great riches, and his daughter will he give him, and his fathers house will he make free in Israel.


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And David said to the men that stood by him, thus, What shall be done to the man that may smite yon Philistine, and take away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the arrays of the living God?


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And the people spoke to him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that may smite him.


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And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he was speaking unto the men; and Eliabs anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why didst thou come down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy presumption, and the wickedness of thy heart; for in order to see the battle art thou come down.


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And he turned from him toward another, and spoke after the same manner: and the people made him again a reply after the former manner.


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And the words which David had spoken were heard, and they told them in the presence of Saul, who sent for him.


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And David said to Saul, Let no mans heart fail because of him: thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.


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And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go unto this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a lad, and he <i>hath been</i> a man of war from his youth.


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And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was feeding his fathers flocks, and there came a lion, and a bear, and bore off a lamb out of the drove;


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And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he rose up against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.


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Both the lion and the bear did thy servant smite: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall become as one of them; because he hath defied the arrays of the living God.


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Moreover David said, The Lord who hath delivered me out of the power of the lion, and out of the power of the bear, will also surely deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and may the Lord be with thee.


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And Saul clothed David with his garments, and he put a helmet of copper upon his head; and he clothed him also with a coat of mail.


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And David girded his sword over his garments, and he essayed to go; for he had not tried it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot walk in these <i>things</i>; for I have never tried it before. And David put them off from him.


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And he took his staff in his hand, and chose himself five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherds pouch which be had, even in a scrip, with his sling in his hand; and he approached to the Philistine.


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And the Philistine went and drew nearer and nearer unto David; and the man that bore the shield went before him.


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And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a lad, and ruddy, with a fair appearance.


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And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest unto me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.


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And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the heavens, and to the beasts of the field.


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Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest unto me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the arrays of Israel, that thou hast defied.


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This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite thee, and remove thy head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the army of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; and all the earth shall know that there is a God for Israel.


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And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not through sword and spear; for the battle is the Lords, and he will give you up into our hand.


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And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and went and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the battlearray to meet the Philistine.


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And David put his hand into the pouch, and took thence a stone, and slung it, and he struck the Philistine on his forehead, and the stone sunk into his forehead: and he fell upon his face to the ground.


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So David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and with the stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.


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And David ran, and stood by the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of its sheath, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled.


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And then arose the men of Israel and of Judah, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou comest to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaarayim, even as far as Gath, and up to Ekron.


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And the children of Israel returned from hotly pursuing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their camps.


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And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but his weapons he placed in his tent.


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And when Saul saw David going forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the army, Abner, whose son is this lad? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I know it not.


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And as David returned from smiting the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.


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And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, young man? And David answered, The son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlechemite.


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And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit on the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.


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And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he had upon him, and gave it to David, and likewise his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.


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And David went out; whithersoever Saul used to send him, he was successful; and Saul set him over the men of war; and he was accepted in the eyes of all the people, and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.


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And it came to pass as they came home, when David returned from smiting the Philistines, that the women came forth out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with triangles.


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And the women that played answered one another, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.


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And Saul was very wroth, and this saying was displeasing in his eyes; and he said, They have given unto David ten thousands, and to me they have given the thousands: and all that he lacketh now yet is only the kingdom.


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And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came suddenly over Saul, and he spoke foolish things in the midst of the house: while David was playing with his hand, as on previous days; and the spear was in the hand of Saul.


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And Saul cast the spear; and he thought, I will strike David through even on the wall. And David turned aside out of his presence twice.


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Therefore Saul removed him from himself, and made him his captain over a thousand: and he went out and came in before the people.


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And Saul said to David, Behold, here is my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give to thee for wife: only be thou unto me a man of valor, and fight the Lords battles. And Saul thought, Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.


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And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, <i>or</i> my fathers family in Israel, that I should be a soninlaw to the king?


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But it happened at the time when Merab, Sauls daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Mecholathite for wife.


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And Michal Sauls daughter loved David: and they told it to Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes.


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And Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may become unto him a snare, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Through the second shalt thou this day become my soninlaw.


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And Saul commanded his servants, Speak to David secretly, saying, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee; and now thou must become the kings soninlaw.


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And the servants of Saul spoke in the ears of David these words. And David said, Doth it seem so light in your eyes to become the kings soninlaw, seeing that I am a poor man, and of light esteem?


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And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged on the kings enemies. But Saul thought to cause David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.


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And when his servants told David these words, the thing was pleasing in the eyes of David to become the kings soninlaw: and the days were not complete,


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When David arose and went, he and his men, and smote of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they counted them out in full to the king, that he might become the kings soninlaw. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter for wife.


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And the princes of the Philistines went forth; and it came to pass, whenever they went forth, that David was more successful than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was highly prized.


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And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that he would kill David. But Jonathan the son of Saul delighted greatly in David.


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And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee; now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:


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And I will go out and stand by the side of my father in the field where thou art, and I myself will speak of thee to my father; and I will see what it is, and I will tell thee.


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And Jonathan spoke favorably of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; since he hath not sinned against thee, and because his deeds are very good for thee;


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And he did put his life in his hand, and he slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel; thou sawest it, and wast rejoiced: wherefore then wilt thou commit sin on innocent blood, by slaying David without a cause?


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And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be put to death.


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And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.


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And the war occurred again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and smote them with a great defeat, and they fled from before him.


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And the evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, and he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.


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And Saul sought to strike David through with the spear even to the wall; but he slipped away from before Saul, who struck the spear into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.


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But Saul sent messengers unto Davids house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning; and Michal his wife told it to David, saying, If thou save not thy life this night, tomorrow thou wilt be put to death.


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And Michal took an image, and put it in the bed, and a pillow of goats hair she put for its head to rest on, and covered it with a cloth.


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And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may put him to death.


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And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats hair for its head to rest on.


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And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou thus deceived me, and sent away my enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal said to Saul, He said unto me, Let me go away: why should I kill thee?


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So David fled, and escaped, and came unto Samuel to Ramah, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and remained in Nayoth.


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And Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as superintendent over them: then came upon the messengers of Saul the spirit of God, and they also prophesied.


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And when it was told to Saul, he sent other messengers, and these prophesied likewise. And Saul sent again messengers the third time, and these also prophesied.


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Then went he himself also to Ramah, and came as far as the great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And some one said, Behold, they are at Nayoth near Ramah.


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And he went thither to Nayoth near Ramah: and there came upon him also the Spirit of God, and he went on, and prophesied as he went, until he came to Nayoth near Ramah.


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And he also stripped off his clothes, and he also prophesied himself before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore people are in the habit of saying, Is Saul too among the prophets?


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And David fled from Nayoth near Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is my iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?


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And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father is not wont to do a great thing or a small thing, which he doth not inform me of; and why should my father conceal this thing from me? it is not so.


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But David swore again, and said, Thy father well knoweth that I have found grace in thy eyes; wherefore he said, Jonathan must not know this, lest he be grieved: nevertheless, as truly as the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, there was but one step between me and death.


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And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the newmoon, and I should as usual sit with the king to eat; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.


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If thy father at all miss me, then do thou say, David asked earnestly leave of me that he might run to Bethlechem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.


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If he should say thus, It is well: then shall thy servant have peace; but if it be at all displeasing to him, then know that the evil is determined on by him.


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And do thou deal kindly with thy servant; for into a covenant of the Lord hast thou brought thy servant with thee; but if there be in me any iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldst thou bring me to thy father?


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And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for if I should know for certain that evil were determined on by my father to come upon thee, would I not tell it thee?


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And Jonathan said unto David, Come, let us go out into the field. And they went out, both of them, into the field.


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And Jonathan said unto David, May the God of Israel <i>punish me</i> if, when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, or of the third day, and, behold, if he be good toward David, I do not then send unto thee, and inform thee of it.


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May the Lord do so to Jonathan and continue so yet farther, that, if it please my father <i>to do</i> thee evil, I will inform thee of it, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; and may the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.


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But, surely, thou wilt not withdraw thy kindness from my house for ever, not even when the Lord cutteth off the enemies of David, every one, from off the face of the earth.


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So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, <i>saying,</i> May the Lord require it at the hand of Davids enemies.


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And Jonathan caused David to swear again, by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.


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Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the newmoon: and thou wilt be missed, because thy seat will be left empty.


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And when thou hast stayed till the third day, then shalt thou go down greatly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself on the workday; and thou shalt remain by the stone Ezel.


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And, behold, I will send the lad, saying, Go, find the arrows; if I should now say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee: then take him and come; for there is peace to thee, and it is nothing; as the Lord liveth.


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But if thus I should say unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee: then go thy way, for the Lord hath sent thee off.


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And touching the matter of which we have spoken, thou and I, behold, the Lord is between me and thee for ever.


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So David hid himself in the field: and when the newmoon was come, the king set himself down to the repast to eat.


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And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall: and when Jonathan arose, Abner seated himself by the side of Saul, and Davids place was left empty.


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Nevertheless Saul spoke not the least on that day; for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; because he hath not yet purified himself.


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And it came to pass on the morrow, the second day of the newmoon, that Davids place was left empty; and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore is the son of Jesse not come, both yesterday and today, to the repast?


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And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for we have a familysacrifice in the city, and my brother himself hath commanded it to me; and now, if I have found favor in thy eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, that I may see my brothers: therefore is he not come unto the kings table.


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And the anger of Saul was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of perverse rebelliousness! do I not know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thy own shame, and to the shame of thy mothers nakedness?


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For all the days that the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou wilt not have any permanence with thy kingdom: therefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.


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And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be put to death? what hath he done?


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And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him: and Jonathan understood that it was determined on by his father to put David to death.


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And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no food on the second day of the newmoon; for he was grieved for David; because his father had made him feel ashamed.


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And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field to the place appointed with David, and a little lad was with him.


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And he said unto his lad, Run, do find out the arrows which I shoot: and the lad ran, and he shot the arrow so as to pass beyond him.


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And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the lad, and said, Behold, the arrow is beyond thee!


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And Jonathan called after the lad, Make haste, speed, stay not: and Jonathans lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.


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And Jonathan gave his weapons unto the lad who was with him, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.


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And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose from the south side <i>of the stone</i>, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.


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And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace: what we have sworn, both of us, in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever, <i>shall be kept</i>. <n>(21:1)</n> And he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.


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<n>(21:2)</n> And David came to Nob to Achimelech the priest; and Achimelech hastened trembling to meet David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man is with thee?


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<n>(21:3)</n> And David said unto Achimelech the priest, The king commanded me a business, and said unto me, Let not any man know the least of the business concerning which I send thee, and which I have commanded thee. And the young men have I appointed to such and such a place.


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<n>(21:4)</n> And now what hast thou on hand: put five loaves of bread into my hand, or what else can be found.


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<n>(21:5)</n> And the priest answered David, and said, I have no common bread on hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have only withheld themselves from women.


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<n>(21:6)</n> And David answered the priest and said to him, To a certainty women have been denied us yesterday and the day before, when I went forth, and the vessels of the young men were holy: and if this was the custom with unholy things, how much more will it remain this day holy in the vessels.


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<n>(21:7)</n> So the priest gave him hallowed bread; for there was no bread there except the showbread, that was removed from before the Lord, so as to put down hot bread on the day when it was taken away.


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<n>(21:8)</n> Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there on that day, detained before the Lord; and his name was Doeg, the Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul.


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<n>(21:9)</n> And David said unto Achimelech, Hast thou not also here at hand a spear or sword: for both my sword as also my other weapons have I not brought with me, because the kings business was urgent.


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<n>(21:10)</n> And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou didst slay in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped up in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that for thyself, take it; for there is no other save it here. And David said, There is none like that: give it to me.


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<n>(21:11)</n> And David arose, and fled on that day from before Saul, and came to Achish the king of Gath.


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<n>(21:12)</n> And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not of this man sing one to another in the dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?


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<n>(21:13)</n> And David took these words to his heart, and was greatly afraid of Achish the king of Gath.


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<n>(21:14)</n> And he disguised his reason before their eyes, and played the madman in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down upon his beard.


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<n>(21:15)</n> Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see, the man is mad: wherefore then will ye bring him to me?


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<n>(21:16)</n> Have I lack of madmen, that ye have brought this man to play his pranks about me? shall this one come into my house?


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And David departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brothers and all his fathers house heard it, they went down to him thither.


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And there gathered themselves unto him every one that was in distress, and every one that had a creditor, and every one that had an embittered spirit; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.


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And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, go forth with you, until I can know what God will do for me.


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And he conducted them to the presence of the king of Moab: and they remained with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.


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And the prophet Gad said unto David, Thou must not remain in the stronghold: depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Chereth.


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And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, <i>now Saul was sitting in Gibah under the tamarisk on the hill, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;</i>


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Then said Saul unto his servants that stood about him, Hear, I pray you, men of Benjamin! will the son of Jesse give, indeed, to every one of you fields and vineyards? will he appoint you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds?


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That ye have conspired, all of you, against me, and there is none that informeth me, while my son hath made a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is concerned for me, or informeth me that my son hath stirred up my servant to lie in wait against me, as it is this day?


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Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Achimelech the son of Achitub.


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And he asked counsel for him of the Lord, and he gave him provision, and gave him also the sword of Goliath the philistine.


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Then sent the king to call Achimelech, the son of Achitub, the priest, and all his fathers house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came, all of them, to the king.


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And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou didst give him bread, and a sword, and hast asked counsel for him of God, that he should rise to lie in wait against me, as it is this day!


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Then answered Achimelech the king, and said, And who is among all thy servants so trusted as David, and the kings soninlaw, and freely admitted to thy private council, and is honored in thy house?


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Did I this day then begin to ask counsel for him of God? far be it from me; let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, <i>nor</i> to all the house of my father; for thy servant knew not of all this, either a little or great thing.


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And the king said unto the runners that stood about him, Turn round and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he was fleeing, and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not stretch forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.


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And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou round, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned round, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day eighty and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.


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And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and lambs, with the edge of the sword.


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And there escaped one of the sons of Achimelech the son of Achitub, whose name was Ebyathar, and he fled after David.


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And David said unto Ebyathar, I knew on that day, because Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have myself occasioned the death of all the persons of thy fathers house.


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Remain thou with me, fear nothing; for he that will seek my life will seek thy life; but thou shalt be well guarded with me.


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Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are plundering the threshingfloors.


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Thereupon David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite among these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go and smite among the Philistines, and deliver Keilah.


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And Davids men said unto him, Behold, here in Judah are we afraid: how much more then if we should go to Keilah against the battlearrays of the Philistines?


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Then David asked yet again counsel of the Lord. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, Go down to Keilah; for I <i>will</i> deliver the Philistines into thy hand.


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So David and his men went to Keilah; and he fought with the Philistines, and lead away their cattle, and smote among them a great slaughter. So David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.


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And it came to pass, when Ebyathar the son of Achimelech, fled over to David, to Keilah, that the ephod came down with him.


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And it was told to Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.


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And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.


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And David understood that Saul secretly devised mischief against him; and he said to Ebyathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.


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Then said David, O Lord, God of Israel, thy servant hath heard for certain that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.


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Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? will Saul come down as thy servant hath heard? O Lord, God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.


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Then said David, Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul! And the Lord said, They will surrender.


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Then arose David and his men, about six hundred men, and departed out of Keilah, and wandered about whithersoever they could go. And when it was told to Saul that David was escaped from Keilah, he forbore to go forth.


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And David remained in the wilderness in strongholds, and abode on the mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him all the time, but God delivered him not into his hand.


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And David saw that Saul was gone forth to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the forest.


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And Jonathan, the son of Saul, arose and went to David into the forest, and strengthened his hand in God.


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And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father will not find thee; and thou wilt be king over Israel, and I will be next unto thee; and also Saul my father knoweth this.


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And they made, both of them, a covenant before the Lord: and David remained in the forest; but Jonathan went to his house.


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Then came up the Ziphites unto Saul to Gibah, saying, Behold, David is hiding himself with us in the strongholds in the forest, on the hill of Chachilah, which is on the right of the desert.


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And now in accordance with all the longing of thy soul, O king, to come down, come down; and our part shall be to surrender him into the kings hand.


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Go, I pray you, make yet more preparations, and remark and see his place where his foot may be, who hath seen him there; for I am told that he dealeth with great subtilty.


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See therefore, and remark every one of all the lurkingplaces where he usually hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you; and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.


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And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul; but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the right of the desert.


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And Saul and his men went to make a search. And they told it to David: wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard this, he pursued after David into the wilderness of Maon.


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And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away from before Saul; and Saul and his men were compassing David and his men to seize them.


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But a messenger came unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.


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Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammachlekoth.


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And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from pursuing the Philistines, that it was told to him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.


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Then took Saul three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.


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And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, and there was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men were sitting in the lower end of the cave.


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And the men of David said unto him, Behold, this is the day of which the Lord hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. And David arose, and cut off the corner of the robe which Saul wore, unperceived.


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And it came to pass afterward, that Davids heart smote him, because he had cut off the corner of Sauls <i>robe</i>.


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And he said unto his men, Far be it from me for the Lords sake, that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lords anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him; because he is the anointed of the Lord.


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So David restrained his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.


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David also arose afterward, and went forth out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, My Lord, the king! And Saul then looked behind him, and David bowed his face to the earth, and prostrated himself.


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And David said to Saul, Wherefore wilt thou listen to mens words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy injury?


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Behold, this day thy eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee today into my hand in the cave, and some one said that I should kill thee: but my soul felt compassion for thee: and I said, I will not stretch forth my hand against my Lord; because he is the anointed of the Lord.


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And now, my father, see, yea, see the corner of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the corner of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and that I have not sinned against thee: yet thou liest in wait for my soul to take it.


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May the Lord judge between me and thee, and may the Lord avenge me on thee; but my hand shall not be against thee.


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As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the wicked proceedeth wickedness; but my hand shall not be against thee.


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After whom is the king of Israel gone out? after whom art thou pursuing? after a dead dog, after a single flea.


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May the Lord therefore be judge, and decide between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and obtain me justice out of thy hand.


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And it came to pass, When David had finished speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.


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And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast done for me only what is good, whereas I have rewarded thee only with what is evil.


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And thou hast proved this day, that thou hast dealt well with me; forasmuch as when the Lord had surrendered me into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.


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For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go away on a good road? so may the Lord reward thee with good for what thou hast done unto me this day.


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And now, behold, I know that thou wilt surely become king, and that the kingdom of Israel will stand firmly in thy hand.


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And now swear unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my fathers house.


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And David swore unto Saul; and Saul went to his house; but David and his men went up into the stronghold.


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And Samuel died; and all the Israelites assembled themselves together, and lamented for him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.


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And there was a man in Maon, whose business was in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was, while they were shearing his sheep, at Carmel.


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Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigayil: and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful form; but the man was hardhearted and evil in his deeds; and he was of the house of Caleb.


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And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and ask him in my name after his wellbeing.


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And ye shall say, May it thus be throughout thy life; and peace be to thee, and peace be to thy house, and unto all that thou hast be peace.


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And now have I heard that thou hast sheepshearers: now thy shepherds have been with us, we have not injured them, neither hath there aught been missing unto them, all the time they were at Carmel.


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Ask thy young men, and they will tell it thee. Therefore let the young men find favor in thy eyes; for on a festive day are we come: give, I pray thee, whatsoever thy hand is capable of unto thy servants, and to thy son, to David.


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And Davids young men came, and they spoke to Nabal in accordance with all these words in the name of David; and then they ceased.


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And Nabal answered the servants of David, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? nowadays there are many servants that break away every one from his master.


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Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my sheepshearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they are?


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And Davids young men turned about on their way, and returned, and came and told him in accordance with all these words.


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And David said unto his men, Gird ye on, every man, his sword. And they girded on, every man, his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men, and two hundred abode by the baggage.


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But one of the young men told Abigayil, Nabals wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master; but he hath spoken rudely to them.


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Whereas the men have been very good unto us; and we have not been injured, neither have we missed any thing, all the time that we went about with them, while we were in the field:


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A wall were they around us both by night and by day, all the time we were with them, feeding the flocks.


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And now know and consider what thou canst do; for evil is determined on against our master, and against all his household; and he is too greatly a worthless man for me to speak to him.


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And Abigayil made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.


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And she said unto her young men, Pass on before me: behold, I come after you. But to her husband Nabal she told nothing.


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And it was so, as she was riding on the ass, and coming down by the covert of the mount, that, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.


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Now David had said, Yea, for naught only have I guarded all that belongeth to this fellow in the wilderness, so that not the least was missed of all that pertained unto him; and he hath requited me evil instead of good.


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So may God do unto the enemies of David, and do so yet farther, if I leave of all that pertaineth to him by the morning light, as much as a dog.


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And when Abigayil saw David, she hastened, and alighted off the ass, and fell down before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.


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And she fell at his feet, and said, On me, me, my lord, is the fault: and let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thy hearing, and listen to the words of thy handmaid.


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Let not my Lord, I pray thee, turn his heart unto this worthless man, unto Nabal; for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and meanness is with him; but I thy handmaid did not see the young men of my Lord, whom thou didst send.


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And now, my lord, as the Eternal liveth, and as thy soul liveth, it is the Lord who hath withholden thee from coming to bloodguiltiness, and from helping thyself with thy own hand; and now may like Nabal be thy enemies, and those that seek <i>to do</i> my Lord evil.


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And now this present which thy handmaid hath brought unto my Lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow in the train my Lord.


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Pardon, I pray thee, the trespass of thy handmaid; for the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house; because the battles of the Lord doth my lord fight, and evil will not be found in thee all thy days.


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And though a man is risen up to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: yet will the soul of my Lord be bound in the bond of life with the Lord thy God; and the soul of thy enemies will he hurl away, as out of the middle of the sling.


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And it shall come to pass, when the Lord will do to my lord, in accordance with all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and will ordain thee as ruler over Israel,


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That this shall not be unto thee as a cause of offense and as a reproach of heart unto my lord, both by having shed blood without cause, and by my lord having righted himself; and when the Lord will do good unto my lord, then do thou remember thy handmaid.


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And David said to Abigayil, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me;


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And blessed be thy intelligence, and blessed be thou, who hast prevented me this day from coming unto bloodguiltiness, and from helping myself with my own hand.


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But truly, as the Lord the God of Israel liveth, who hath withdrawn me from injuring thee, except thou hadst hastened and come to meet me, surely there would not have been left unto Nabal by the morninglight so much as a dog.


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And David took out of her hand that which she had brought him; and unto her he said, Go up in peace to thy house: see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have respected thy presence.


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And Abigayil came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabals heart was merry within him, and he was exceedingly drunken; wherefore she told him not a word, either little or great, until the morninglight.


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But it happened in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things; and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.


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And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath withheld his servant from evil; and the wickedness of Nabal hath the Lord returned upon his own head. And David sent and applied for Abigayil, to take her to himself for wife.


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And the servants of David came to Abigayil to Carmel, and they spoke unto her, saying, David hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to himself for wife.


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Thereupon she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thy handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.


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And Abigayil hastened, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with her five damsels that went in her train; and she went after the messengers of David, and she became his wife.


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But Saul had given Michal his daughter, Davids wife, to Palti, the son of Layish, who was of Gallim.


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And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibah, saying, Behold, David hideth himself on the hill of Chachilah, before the desert.


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Then arose Saul, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him were three thousand men chosen out of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.


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And Saul encamped on the hill of Chachilah, which is before the desert by the way; but David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul was coming after him into the wilderness.


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And David arose, and came to the place where Saul was encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army; and Saul was lying in the midst of the ring, and the people were encamped round about him.


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Then commenced David and said to Achimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruyah, the brother of Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will readily go down with thee.


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So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the ring, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head; but Abner and the people were lying round about him.


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Then said Abishai to David, God hath surrendered this day thy enemy into thy hand: and now let me strike him through, I pray thee, with the spear, even to the earth with one blow, and I will not give him a second one.


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But David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who hath stretched forth his hand against the Lords anointed, and remained guiltless?


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David said farthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord alone shall strike him down: either his day shall come that he die; or he shall go down into battle, and perish.


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Far be this from me for the sake of the Lord, that I should stretch forth my hand against the Lords anointed; but now, I pray thee, take thou the spear that is by his head, and the cruise of water, and let us go our way.


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So David took the spear and the cruise of water by the head of Saul, and they went their way; and no one saw it, and no one perceived it, andno one awaked; for they were all sleeping; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.


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Then went David over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mount afar off, the space between them being great.


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And David called to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Wilt thou not answer, Abner? And Abner answered and said, Who art thou that callest to the king?


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And David said to Abner, Art thou not a man? and who is like to thee in Israel? why then hast thou not kept guard over thy lord the king? for there came one of the people to destroy the king thy lord.


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This thing which thou hast done is not good. As the Lord liveth, ye deserve to die; because ye have not kept guard over your master, over the Lords anointed. And now see, where is the kings spear, and the cruise of water that was by his head?


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And Saul recognized Davids voice, and he said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my Lord, O king.


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And he said, Why is this that my lord doth pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?


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And now, I pray thee, let my Lord the king hear the words of his servant! If the Lord have stirred thee up against me, then may he accept the savor of an offering; but if they be the children of men, then be they cursed before the Lord; because they have driven me out this day so that I cannot attach myself on the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods.


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Now, therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth far from the presence of the Lord; for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single flea, as one doth usually pursue a partridge on the mountains.


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Then said Saul, I have sinned; return, my son David; for I will not do thee harm any more, for the cause that my life was precious in thy eyes this day: behold, I have acted foolishly, and have erred exceedingly much.


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And David answered and said, Behold, here is the kings spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.


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And may the Lord recompense to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; since the Lord delivered thee into my hand today, and I would not stretch forth my hand against the anointed of the Lord.


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And behold, as thy life was highly valued this day in my eyes, so may my life be highly valued in the eyes of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.


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Then said Saul to David, Blessed be thou my son David: thou wilt both do great things, and wilt also surely prevail. And David went then on his way, and Saul returned to his place.


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And David said in his heart, Now I may yet perish suddenly one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape at once into the land of the Philistines, then Saul will abstain from me, to seek me any more in all the territory of Israel: and so shall I escape out of his hand.


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And David arose, and he passed over himself with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, the king of Gath.


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And David remained with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, also David with his two wives, Achinoam the Yizreelitess, and Abigayil, Nabals wife, the Carmelitess.


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And David said unto Achish, If now I have found grace in thy eyes, let them give me a place in some one of the countrytowns, that I may dwell there; for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?


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Then gave Achish unto him on that day Ziklag: therefore hath Ziklag pertained unto the kings of Judah until this day.


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And the number of the days that David dwelt in the fields of the Philistines was a full year and four months.


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And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gizrites, and the Amalekites; for these nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, till thou comest to Shur, and as far as the land of Egypt.


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And David smote the land, and left not alive either man or woman, and took away the flocks, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.


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And Achish said, Whither have ye made an inroad today? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Yerachmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.


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And David left not alive either man or woman, to bring <i>them</i> to Gath, saying, That they may not tell on us, saying, So hath David done, and so is his custom all the days he hath dwelt in the fields of the Philistines.


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And Achish had confidence in David, saying, He hath surely spoiled his odor among his people, among Israel; and he will become unto me a servant for ever.


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And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their camps together for warfare, to fight with Israel; and Achish said unto David, Thou must know that thou shalt go out with me into the camp, thou and thy men.


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And David said to Achish, By reason of this wilt thou thyself ascertain what thy servant will do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee the guard of my head for all times.


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Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city; and Saul had removed those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.


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And the Philistines assembled themselves together, and came and encamped at Shunem: and Saul assembled together all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.


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And Saul asked counsel of the Lord; but the Lord answered him not, either by means of dreams, or by means of the Urim, or by means of the prophets.


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Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek out for me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.


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And Saul disguised himself, and put on other garments, and he went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Divine, I pray thee, unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me the one whom I shall say unto thee.


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And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou well knowest that which Saul hath done, that he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land; wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?


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And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no guilt attach to thee for this thing.


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And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman said to Saul thus, Why hast thou deceived me? since thou art Saul.


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And the king said unto her, Be not afraid; however, what hast thou seen? And the woman said unto Saul, A divine being have I seen ascending out of the earth.


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And he said unto her, What is his form? And she said, An old man is coming up; and he is wrapt in a mantle. And so Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and prostrated himself.


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And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am greatly distressed, and the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and hath not answered me any more, either by the agency of the prophets, or by means of dreams; wherefore I have called thee, to make known unto me what I shall do.


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Then said Samuel, And why wilt thou ask me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thy enemy?


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And the Lord hath done for himself as he hath spoken through my agency; and the Lord hath rent the government out of thy hand, and hath given it to thy associate, to David;


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As thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord, and didst not execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek; therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.


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And the Lord will deliver also Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: also the camp of Israel will the Lord deliver into the hand of the Philistines.


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Then fell Saul hastily with his full length to the earth, and was greatly afraid, because of the words of Samuel: there was also no strength in him; for he had not eaten any food all that day, and all that night.


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And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was greatly terrified; and she said unto him, Behold, thy handmaid hath obeyed thy voice; and I put my life in my hand, and hearkened unto thy words which thou spokest unto me.


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And now, hearken thou also, I pray thee, unto the voice of thy handmaid, and let me set before thee a morsel of bread, and eat; that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on the way.


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But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants urged him much, as also the woman; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.


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And the woman had a fatted calf in the house; and she hastened, and slaughtered it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread thereof:


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And she brought it near before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.


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Now the Philistines assembled together all their camps at Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is by Yizreel.


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And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; but David and his men passed on at the last with Achish.


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Then said the princes of the Philistines, What are these Hebrews to do? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Behold, this is David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who hath been with me already a year, or even years, and I have not found the least in him <i>to blame</i> from the day of his joining <i>me</i> until this day?


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And the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Cause this man to go back, that he may return to his place whither thou hast assigned him; but he shall not go down with us to the battle, that he may not become an adversary to us in the battle; for wherewith could this person reconcile himself unto his master? is it not by means of the heads of these men?


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Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in the dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?


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Then did Achish call David, and say unto him, As the Lord liveth, <i>I declare</i> that thou art upright, and that thy going out and thy coming in with me in the camp is good in my eyes; for I have not found in thee any evil from the day of thy coming unto me until this day; nevertheless in the eyes of the lords thou art not good.


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And now return, and go in peace, that thou mayest not do any evil in the eyes of the lords of the Philistines.


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And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant from the day that I have been before thee, until this day, that I shall not go to fight against the enemies of my Lord the king?


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And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my eyes, as an angel of God; nevertheless, the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.


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And now rise up early in the morning with the servants of thy master that are come with thee: and rise then up early in the morning, and when ye have light, go away.


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And David and his men rose up early to go away in the morning, to return unto the land of the Philistines; but the Philistines went up to Yizreel.


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And it came to pass when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burnt it with fire;


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And had taken captive the women that were therein, both great and small: they had not slain any one, but had led them off, and gone on their way.


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When therefore David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burnt with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, had been taken captive.


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And David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.


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And the two wives of David were also taken captive, Achinoam the Yizreelitess, and Abigayil the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.


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And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was imbittered, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David fortified himself in the Lord his God.


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And David said to Ebyathar the priest, the son of Achimelech, Bring hither, I pray thee, unto me the ephod. And Ebyathar brought the ephod near unto David.


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And David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop! shall I overtake them? And he said to him, Pursue; for thou wilt surely overtake them, and certainly recover <i>all</i>.


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So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came up to the brook Bessor, where those that were left behind stayed.


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But David pursued on, he and four hundred men; and there stayed behind two hundred men, who were too fatigued to go over the brook Bessor.


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And they found an Egyptian man in the field, and took him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;


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And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins, and he ate, and then his spirit returned to him; for he had not eaten any bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.


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And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young Egyptian man, the servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because I fell sick, today three days ago.


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We made an invasion upon the south of the Kerethites, and upon that which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and Ziklag did we burn with fire.


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And David said to him, Wilt thou bring me down to this troop? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt not kill me, and that thou wilt not surrender me into the hand of my master, and then will I bring thee down to this troop.


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And he brought him down; and behold, they were scattered over the face of all the country, eating and drinking, and dancing for joy, because of all the great spoil which they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.


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And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day; and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, who rode upon camels, and fled.


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And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken away; and his two wives also did David rescue.


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And there was nothing missing to them, from small to great, as also sons and daughters, and spoil, down to every thing that they had taken from them: the whole did David bring back.


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And David took all the flocks and the herds: these they drove before those other cattle, and said, This is Davids spoil.


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And David came to the two hundred men, who had been too fatigued to follow after David, and whom they had left to remain at the brook Bessor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him; and David came near to the people, and asked them after their wellbeing.


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Then exclaimed every wicked and worthless man, of those that had gone with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them aught of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, and these they may lead away, and go.


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Then said David, Ye must not do so, my brethren; since the Lord hath given us this, and guarded us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.


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And who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as is the part of him that went down to the battle, so shall be the part of him that remained with the baggage: together must they share.


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And it happened from that day and forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel until this day.


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And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, Behold, here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord:


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To those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in south Ramoth, and to those who were in Yattir,


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And to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa,


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And to those who were in Rachal, and to those who were in the cities of Yerachmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,


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And to those who were in Chormah, and to those who were in Korashan, and to those who were in Athach,


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And to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men had wandered about.


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Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and there fell down <i>many</i> slain on mount Gilboa.


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And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines smote Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malkishua, the sons of Saul.


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And the battle was heavy against Saul, and he was found by the archers, the men with bows; and he was greatly in dread of the archers.


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And Saul said unto his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and wantonly illuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was greatly afraid; wherefore Saul took the sword, and fell upon it.


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And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, then fell he likewise upon his sword, and died with him.


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Thus died Saul, and his three sons, and his armorbearer, also all his men, on that same day together.


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And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and those that were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons had died: they forsook the cities, and fled away; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.


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And it came to pass on the morrow, that the Philistines came to strip the slain; and they found Saul and his three sons fallen on mount Gilboa.


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And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent it into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.


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And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth; and his body they fastened to the wall of Bethshan.


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And when the inhabitants of Yabeshgilad heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul:


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Then arose all the valiant men, and walked all the night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and they came to Yabesh, and burnt them there.


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And they took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisktree at Yabesh, and they fasted seven days.


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Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from smiting the Amalekites, that David abode in Ziklag two days.


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And it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and it happened, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.


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And David said unto him, From where comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.


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And David said unto him, What took place there? I pray thee, tell me. And he said, That the people are fled from the battle, and that also many of the people are fallen and have died; and that also Saul and Jonathan his son are dead.


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And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul is dead as also Jonathan his son?


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And the young man that told him said, I happened entirely by chance to be upon mount Gilboa, when, behold, there was Saul leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen had overtaken him.


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And he said unto me, Place thyself, I pray thee, by me, and slay me; for a mortal tremor hath seized on me, although my life is yet whole in me.


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So I placed myself by him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them unto my lord hither.


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David thereupon took hold of his clothes, and rent them; and <i>so did</i> likewise all the men that were with him:


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And they lamented, and wept, and fasted until the evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.


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And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he said, The son of a stranger, an Amalekite, am I.


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And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thy hand to destroy the Lords anointed?


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And David called one of the young men, and said, Come near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.


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And David said unto him, Thy blood is upon thy own head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I myself have slain the Lords anointed.


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And he said, That the children of Judah should be taught the bow; behold it is written in the book of Yashar.


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Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; that the daughters of the Philistines may not be glad, that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not rejoice.


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O mountains of Gilboa, no dew, nor rain be upon you, nor fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was stained, the shield of Saul, as though it had not been anointed with oil.


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From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned never back, and the sword of Saul never returned empty.


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Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the dear in their lives, were even in their death not divided: more than eagles were they swift, more than lions were they strong.


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O daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with beautiful dresses, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.


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I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very dear hast thou been unto me: wonderful was thy love for me, passing the love of women.


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And it came to pass after this, that David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into one of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.


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So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Achinoam the Yizreelitess, and Abigayil, Nabals wife, the Carmelite.


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And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household; and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.


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And then came the men of Judah, and they anointed there David as king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Yabeshgilad were those that buried Saul.


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And David thereupon sent messengers unto the men of Yabeshgilad, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have done this kindness unto your Lord, unto Saul, and have buried him.


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And now may the Lord deal with you in kindness and truth: and as for me also, I will requite you this good deed, because ye have done this thing.


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And now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant men; for your lord Saul is dead; and also me have the house of Judah anointed as king over them.


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But Abner, the son of Ner, the captain of the army of Saul, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Machanayim;


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And made him king over Gilad, and over the Ashurites, and over Yizreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.


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Forty years old was Ishbosheth the son of Saul, when he became king over Israel, and two years he reigned. But the house of Judah followed David.


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And the number of days that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.


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And there went out Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, from Machanayim to Gibon.


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And Joab the son of Zeruyah and the servants of David also went out, and they met together by the pool of Gibon: and they sat down, these on the one side of the pool, and the others on the other side of the pool.


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And Abner said to Joab, Do let the young men rise up and play before us. And Joab said, They may rise up.


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Then they rose up and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.


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And they grasped every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellows side; and they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Chelkathhazzurim, which is by Gibon.


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And the battle was exceedingly fierce on that day; and Abner with the men of Israel was beaten, before the servants of David.


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And there were at that place three sons of Zeruyah, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as fleet of foot as any roe in the field.


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And Asahel pursued after Abner; and he turned not in going to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.


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And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay hold for thyself on one of the young men, and take thyself his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.


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And Abner repeated again to say unto Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? and how should I then lift up my face to Joab thy brother?


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But he refused to turn aside; and Abner smote him with the hinder end of the spear under the fifth rib, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died on the spot: and it came to pass, that all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen down and died remained standing still.


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But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giach on the way to the wilderness of Gibon.


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And the children of Benjamin assembled themselves together behind Abner, and formed one solid body, and posted themselves on the top of a certain hill.


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And Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall for everlasting the sword devour? knowest thou not that it will be bitter in the end? and how long shall it be, ere thou wilt bid the people to return from pursuing their brethren?


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And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then already in the morning would the people have gone away every one from pursuing his brother.


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So Joab blew the cornet, and all the people remained standing still, and pursued no more after Israel, and they continued no more to fight.


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And Abner and his men walked through the plain all that night, and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Machanayim.


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And Joab returned from pursuing Abner; and he gathered all the people together; and there were missed of Davids servants nineteen men and Asahel.


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But the servants of David had smitten <i>many</i> of Benjamin, and of Abners men: three hundred and sixty men died.


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And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlechem. And Joab and his men went all that night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.


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And the war lasted a long time between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker and weaker.


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And there were born unto David sons in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Achinoam the Yizreelitess;


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And his second was Kilab, of Abigayil the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Abshalom, the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai the king of Geshur;


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And it came to pass, while the war lasted between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner upheld with all his strength the house of Saul.


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And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Ayah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my fathers concubine?


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And Abner became very wroth because of the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I the chief of the dogs which belong to Judah? unto this day have I shown kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me today with a wrong committed with this woman?


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May God do so to Abner, and continue to do yet more to him, that, as the Lord hath sworn to David, even so will I surely do to him;


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To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.


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And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying <i>also,</i> Make thy covenant with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.


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And he said, Well: I will indeed make a covenant with thee; but one thing I require of thee, namely, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Sauls daughter, when thou comest to see my face.


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And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, saying, Give up to me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.


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And her husband went with her going along and weeping behind her as far as Bachurim: when Abner said unto him, Go, return. And he returned.


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And Abner had used these words with the elders of Israel, saying, Already yesterday and even before ye have been desiring David as king over you:


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And now do it; for the Lord hath said of David thus, By the hand of my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.


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And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of the whole house of Benjamin.


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And Abner came to David to Hebron, and with him were twenty men; and David made for Abner and for the men that were with him a feast.


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And Abner said unto David, I will now arise and go, and I will assemble unto my Lord the king all Israel, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul longeth for. And David dismissed Abner: and he went in peace.


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And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a predatory excursion, and brought in much booty with them; but Abner was no more with David in Hebron; for he had dismissed him, and he was gone in peace.


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When Joab and all the army that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath dismissed him, and he is gone in peace.


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Then came Joab to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee: why is it that thou hast dismissed him, that he went freely away?


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Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that to deceive thee did he come, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.


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And Joab went out from David, and he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David knew it not.


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And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him in private; and he smote him there under the fifth rib, and he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.


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And when David heard it afterward, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:


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May it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his fathers house; and may there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a crutch, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.


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But Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibon in the battle.


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And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and <i>go</i> mourning before Abner. And king David walked behind the bier.


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And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.


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Thy hands were not bound, and thy feet were not put into fetters: as one falleth before men of wickedness art thou fallen. And all the people wept again over him.


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And all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and thus may he continue, if before the sun be down I taste bread, or the least else.


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And all the people took notice of it, and it was pleasing in their eyes: as whatsoever the king did was pleasing in the eyes of all the people.


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And all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.


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And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that a prince and a great man hath fallen this day in Israel?


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And I am this day yet weak, and just anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruyah, are too strong for me: may the Lord pay the doer of evil according to his wickedness.


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And when Sauls son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, his hands became enfeebled, and all the Israelites were troubled.


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And Sauls son had two men who were captains of bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:


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And Jonathan, Sauls son, had a son that was lame on both feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan from Yizreel, and his nurse took him up and fled: and it came to pass, in her haste to flee, that he fell, and was rendered lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.


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And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came at the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was just lying in bed as usual at noon.


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And they came thither into the interior of the house, as buyers of wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.


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Namely, they came into the house, while he was lying on his bed in his sleepingchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and cut off his head, and took his head, and went by the way of the plain all the night.


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And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and they said to the king, Behold, here is the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thy enemy, who sought thy life: and the Lord hath granted to my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul, and on his seed.


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But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,


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When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, and he was in his own eyes as though he brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who <i>thought</i> that I should give him a reward for his tidings:


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How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous man in his own house upon his bed? and now, behold, I will require his blood of your hand, and I will remove you away from the earth.


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And David gave the command to the young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up by the pool in Hebron. But the head of Ishbosheth they took, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.


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Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold us, thy bone and thy flesh are we;


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Already yesterday, and even before, when Saul was king over us, thou wast the one that led out and brought in Israel: And the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt indeed feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a chief over Israel.


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Thus came all the elders of Israel to the king unto Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David as king over Israel.


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In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.


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And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land; who said unto David, as followeth, Thou shalt not come in hither, except thou <i>first</i> remove away the blind and the lame: meaning, David cannot come in hither.


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And David said on that day, Whosoever will smite the Jebusites, and reach the aqueduct and the lame and the blind, that are hateful to Davids soul,Wherefore people usually say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.


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And David dwelt in the fort, and he called it "The City of David." And David built <i>it</i> round about from the Millo and inward.


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And Hiram the king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedartrees, and carpenters, and stonemasons: and they built a house for David.


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And David felt conscious that the Lord has established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.


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And David took yet more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were born to David yet <i>more</i> sons and daughters.


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And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,


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But when the Philistines heard that the people had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David: and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.


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And David asked counsel of the Lord, saying, shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.


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And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken down my enemies before me, as a breach <i>is made by</i> water. Wherefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.


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And when David asked counsel of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but turn about and fall in the rear of them, and come upon them opposite to the mulberrytrees.


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And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of walking on the top of the mulberrytrees, that thou shalt then bestir thyself; for then will the Lord go out before thee, to smite in the camp of the Philistines.


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And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and he smote the Philistines from Geba until thou comest to Gezer.


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And David arose, and went with all the people who were with him from Baaleyehudah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the name of which was called by the name of the Lord of hosts, that dwelleth over the cherubim.


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And they conveyed the ark of God in a new wagon, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Achyo, the sons of Abinadab, guided the new wagon.


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When they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was on the hill, <i>they were</i> near the ark of God; but Achyo went before the ark.


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And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of firwood, and on harps, and on psalteries, and on tambourines, and with bells, and with cymbals.


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And when they came to the threshingfloor of Nachon, Uzzah put forth <i>his hand</i> to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.


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And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for the error; and he died there by the ark of God.


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And it was grievous to David, because the Lord had suddenly taken away Uzzah; and he called that place Perezuzzah <i>Breach of Uzzah</i> until this day.


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So David would not allow to have the ark of the Lord removed unto him into the city of David; but David had it carried round into the house of Obededom the Gittite.


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And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.


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And it was told to king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God: and David then went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with joy.


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And it happened, that when the bearers of the ark of the Lord had progressed six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.


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So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the cornet.


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And it happened, as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked through the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.


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And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and David offered burntofferings before the Lord and peaceofferings.


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And when David had made an end of offering the burntofferings and the peaceofferings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.


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And he dealt out to all the people, to the whole multitude of Israel, to both men and women, to every person one cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine: and all the people departed every one to his house.


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And David then returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and she said, How honored was today the king of Israel, who uncovered himself today before the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as only one of the low fellows can uncover himself!


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And David said unto Michal, Before the Lord, who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to ordain me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel:yea, before the Lord will I yet farther play.


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And should I be yet more vile than thus, and should I be base in my own eyes: yet among the maidservants of whom thou hast spoken, yea, among them would I still be honored.


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And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies;


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That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.


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Go and say unto my servant, unto David, Thus hath said the Lord, Wilt thou indeed build me a house for my dwelling?


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For I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even until this day; but have been moving about in a tent and in a tabernacle.


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In all the places where I moved about among all the children of Israel, did I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I ordained to feed my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built for me a house of cedar?


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Now therefore, thus shalt thou say unto my servant, to David, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from behind the flocks, to be a ruler over my people, over Israel;


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And I have been with thee whithersoever thou didst go, and I have cut off all thy enemies from thy presence, and I have made thee a great name, like the name of the great who are on the earth;


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And I have procured a place for my people, for Israel, and I have planted them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and be no more troubled; and that the children of wickedness shall not afflict them any more as aforetimes,


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And <i>as it was</i> since the day that I ordained judges to be over my people Israel; and I have caused thee to rest from all thy enemies; and the Lord telleth thee that he, the Lord, will make thee a house.


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When thy days will be completed, and thou wilt sleep with thy fathers: then will I set up thy seed after thee, who shall proceed out of thy body, and I will establish his kingdom.


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He it is that shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.


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I too will be to him as a father, and he shall indeed be to me as a son: so that when he committeth iniquity, I will chastise him with the rod of men, and with the plagues of the children of man;


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But my kindness shall not depart from him, as I caused it to depart from Saul, whom I removed from before thee.


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And thy house and thy kingdom shall be steadfast for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.


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In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.


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Then went king David in, and sat down before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord Eternal? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me as far as hitherward?


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And this was yet too small a thing in thine eyes, O Lord Eternal; and thou hast spoken also of thy servants house for a distant time. And is this the desert of man, O Lord Eternal?


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And what can David add yet more to speak unto thee? since thou, O Lord Eternal, knowest well thy servant?


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For the sake of thy word, and in accordance with thy own heart, hast thou done all this great thing, so as to let thy servant know it.


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Therefore art thou great, O Eternal God; for there is none like thee, and there is no God beside thee, in accordance with all that we have heard with our ears.


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And who is like thy people, like Israel, the only nation on the earth, which God went to redeem for himself as a people, and to acquire for himself a name, and to do for you this great deed, and fearful things for thy land <i>to drive out</i>, from before thy people which thou hast redeemed for thyself from Egypt, nations and their gods.


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For thou hast established for thyself thy people Israel as a people unto thee for ever; and thou, O Lord, art indeed become their God.


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And now, O Eternal God, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, stand firm for ever, and do as thou hast spoken.


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And let thy name be magnified unto everlasting, that men may say, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and may the house of thy servant David be established before thee.


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For thou, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to the ear of thy servant, saying, A house will be built up for thee; therefore hath thy servant found the heart to pray unto thee this prayer.


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And now, O Lord Eternal, thou art the <i>true</i> God, and thy words must become the truth, and thou hast spoken unto thy servant this goodness:


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And now let it please thee and bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord Eternal, hast spoken it; and from thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.


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And it came to pass after this, that David smote the Philistines, and humbled them: and David took Metheghaammah out of the hand of the Philistines.


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And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, laying them down on the ground; and he measured with two lines to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became Davids servants, bringing presents.


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David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rechob, the king of Zobah, as he went to extend his territory at the river Euphrates.


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And David captured from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand men on foot: and David hamstringed all the chariotteams, but reserved of them a hundred chariotteams.


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And the Syrians of Damascus then came to aid Hadadezer, the king of Zobah, when David slew of the Syrians twenty and two thousand men.


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And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, bearing presents. And the Lord helped David whithersoever he went.


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And David took the shields of gold that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.


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And from Betach, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, did king David take exceedingly much copper.


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Then did Toi send Yoram his son unto king David, to ask him after his wellbeing, and to bless him, because that he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him; for Hadadezer had been engaged in wars with Toi; and he had in his hand vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of copper:


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These also did king David sanctify unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had sanctified from all the nations which he subdued;


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From Syria, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, the son of Rechob, the king of Zobah.


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And David acquired a name when he returned from his smiting the Syrians in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand men.


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And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David whithersoever he went.


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And Zadok the son of Achitub, and Achimelech the son of Ebyathar, were priests; and Serayah was scribe;


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And Banayahu the son of Yehoyada was over both the Kerethites and the Pelethites; and Davids sons were officers of state.


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And David said, Is there yet any one that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for the sake of Jonathan?


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And the house of Saul had a servant whose name was Ziba; and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And be said, Thy servant <i>is it</i>.


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And the king said, Is there no one left any more of the house of Saul, that I may show him the kindness of God! And Ziba said unto the king, There is yet a son of Jonathan, lame on both feet.


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And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.


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And king David sent, and had him taken out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.


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And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and he fell on his face, and bowed himself. And David said, Mephibosheth; And he answered, Here is thy servant!


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And David said unto him, Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for the sake of Jonathan thy father, and I will restore unto thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.


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And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldst turn thy regard unto such a dead dog as I am?


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Then called the king for Ziba, Sauls servant, and said unto him, all that hath pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy masters son.


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And thou shalt till for him the land, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants, and thou shalt bring in <i>the product</i>, that thy masters son may have bread which he can eat; but Mephibosheth thy masters son shall eat continually bread at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.


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And Ziba said unto the king, In accordance with all that my Lord the king may command his servant, so will thy servant do. And Mephibosheth <i>said the king</i> shall eat at my table, as one of the kings sons.


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And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.


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And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the kings table; and he was lame on both his feet.


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And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Chanun his son reigned in his stead.


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Then said David, I will show kindness unto Chanun the son of Nachash, as his father showed me kindness. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And Davids servants came unto the land of the children of Ammon.


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And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Chanun their Lord, Doth David honor thy father in thy eyes, that he hath sent comforters unto thee! hath David not sent his servants unto thee, in order to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?


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Chanun thereupon took Davids servants, and shaved off the onehalf of their beard, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.


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When they told it unto David, he sent <i>persons</i> to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed; and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beard be grown, and then return.


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And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become in bad odor with David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrechob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand men on foot, and the king of Maachah with a thousand men, and of the people of Tob twelve thousand men.


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And the children of Ammon came out, and put themselves in battlearray at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rechob, and the people of Tob and Maachah, were by themselves in the field.


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When now Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he selected from all the chosen men of Israel, and arrayed himself against the Syrians:


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And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, who arrayed himself against the children of Ammon.


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And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then shalt thou bring me help; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then will I go to help thee.


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Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves in behalf of our people, and in behalf of the cities of our God: and may the Lord do that which seemeth good in his eyes.


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And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians; and they fled from before him.


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And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then did they also fly before Abishai, and entered into the city. Joab then returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.


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And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river, and they came to Chelam; and Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them.


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And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Chelam. And the Syrians set themselves in battlearray against David, and fought with him.


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And the Syrians fled from before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians <i>the men</i> of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen; and Shobach also the captain of their army he smote, and he died there.


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And when all the kings, the vassals to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them: and the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.


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And it came to pass, at the return of the same season of the year, at the time when kings go forth, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained behind at Jerusalem.


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And it happened at eveningtide, that David arose from off his couch, and walked upon the roof of the kings house: and he saw from the roof a woman bathing herself; and the woman was of a very beautiful appearance.


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And David sent and inquired after the woman; and some one said, Behold, this is Bethsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriyah the Hittite.


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And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her, and she had just purified herself from her uncleanness; and she returned unto her house.


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And when Uriyah was come unto him, David asked after the wellbeing of Joab, and after the wellbeing of the people, and how the war prospered.


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And David said to Uriyah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriyah went forth out of the kings house, and there followed him a mess of food from the king.


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But Uriyah laid himself down at the door of the kings house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.


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And they told David, saying, Uriyah is not gone down unto his house: and David said unto Uriyah, Art thou not come from a journey? why then art thou not gone down unto thy own house?


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Then said Uriyah unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah abide in booths; and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are encamped in the open field: and should I alone go unto my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.


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And David said unto Uriyah, Tarry here also this day, and tomorrow will I send thee off. So Uriyah remained in Jerusalem on that day and the following.


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And David invited him, and he ate and drank before him, and he made him drunken; and he went out in the evening to lie down on his restingplace with the servants of his lord; but to his house he did not go down.


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And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriyah.


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And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriyah in front, opposite to the hottest fight, and then withdraw from behind him, that he may be smitten and die.


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And it came to pass, when Joab was enclosing the city, that he placed Uriyah toward the spot of which he knew that valiant men were there.


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And the men of the city went out and fought with Joab; and there fell some of the people, of the servants of David, and there died also Uriyah the Hittite.


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And he charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast finished telling all the events of the war to the king,


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And it happen that the kings wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore did you approach unto the city to fight? knew ye not, that they would shoot down from off the wall?


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Who smote Abimelech the son of Yerubbesheth? did not a woman throw down upon him a piece of an upper millstone from off the wall so that he died at Thebez? why did ye approach unto the wall? then must thou say, Also thy servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead.


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And the messenger said unto David, Because the men overpowered us and came out against us into the field; but we set upon them, as far as the entrance of the gate.


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And the archers then shot at thy servants from off the wall; and there died some of the servants of the king, and also thy servant Uriyah the Hittite is dead.


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Then said David to the messenger, Thus shalt thou say to Joab, Let this thing not be displeasing in thy eyes; for at times this, at other times the other will the sword devour; continue firmly in thy war against the city, and overthrow it: and thus do thou encourage him.


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And when the <i>time of</i> mourning was past, David sent and took her to his house, and she became his wife; and she bore him a son. But the thing which David had done was displeasing in the eyes of the Lord.


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And the Lord sent Nathan unto David, and he came unto him and said to him, Two men were once in one city, the one rich and the other poor.


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But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe, which he had bought; and he nourished it, and it grew up with him and with his children together; of his bread it used to eat, and out of his cup it used to drink, and in his bosom it used to lie, and it was to him as a daughter.


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And there came a traveler unto the rich man; and he felt compunction to take from his own flocks and from his own herds to dress for the wayfarer that was come to him; but he took the ewe of the poor man, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.


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And the anger of David was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, surely the man that hath done this deserveth to die;


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And the ewe he shall pay fourfold, for punishment that he hath done this thing, and because he had no compassion.


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Then said Nathan to David, Thou art the man! Thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel, It is I who anointed thee as king over Israel, and it is I who delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;


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And I gave unto thee the house of thy master, and <i>put</i> the wives of thy master into thy bosom, and gave unto thee the house of Israel and Judah: and if this be too little, I could bestow on thee yet many more like these things.


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Wherefore hast thou despised the word of the Lord to do what is evil in his eyes? Uriyah the Hittite hast thou smitten with the sword, and his wife hast thou taken unto thee for wife; but him hast thou slain with the sword of the children of Ammon.


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And now, the sword shall not depart from thy house for ever; for the reason that thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriyah the Hittite to be thy wife.


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Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will raise up against thee evil out of thy own house, and I will take away thy wives before thy eyes, and I will give them unto thy neighbor; and he shall lie with thy wives before the face of this sun.


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For thou hast done it in secret; but I will surely do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.


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Then said David unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, Also the Lord hath caused thy sin to pass away: thou shalt not die.


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Nevertheless, because thou hast given great cause to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme through this thing, the child also that hath been born unto thee shall surely die.


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And Nathan went to his house; and the Lord struck the child that Uriyahs wife had born unto David, that it became very sick.


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And David besought God in behalf of the lad; and David kept a fast, and came home, and lay over night upon the earth.


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And the elders of the house arose about him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, and he did not partake of any bread with them.


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And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died; and the servants of David were afraid to tell him, that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not hearken to our voice: how then shall we say to him, The child is dead! he might do <i>himself</i> a hurt.


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But when David saw that his servants were whispering to each other, David understood that the child was dead; wherefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? and they said, he is dead.


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David then rose up from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his garments, and went into the house of the Lord and prostrated himself; and then he came to his own house, and asked that they should set food before him, and he ate.


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And his servants then said unto him, What is this thing which thou hast done? On account of the child when living thou didst fast and weep; but as soon as the child was dead thou didst arise and eat bread!


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And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; because I said, Who knoweth, but that the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?


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But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast then? can I restore him again? I am going to him; but he will not return to me.


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And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and he went in unto her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and called his name Solomon; and the Lord loved him.


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And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and called his name, Yedideyah in behalf of the Lord.


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And Joab sent messengers to David; and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have also captured the watertown.


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And now gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and capture it: lest I capture the city myself, and it be called by my name.


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And David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and captured it.


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And he took the crown of Malkam from off his head, and its weight was a talent of gold, and <i>on it was</i> a precious stone, and it was set on the head of David; and the booty of the city he brought out in great abundance.


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And the people that were therein he brought forward, and put them under saws, and under iron threshingwagons, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through brickkilns; and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon: and David returned with them with all the people unto Jerusalem.


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And it came to pass after this, that Abshalom the son of David had a handsome sister, whose name was Thamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.


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And Amnon worried himself so that he fell sick on account of Thamar his sister; for she was a virgin; and it was impossible in the eyes of Amnon to do her the least <i>harm</i>.


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But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Yonadab, the son of Shimah, Davids brother; and Yonadab was a very sensible man.


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And he said to him, Why art thou so wasted, O prince, morning after morning? Wilt thou not tell me? Then said Amnon to him, Thamar the sister of Abshalom my brother do I love.


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And Yonadab said to him, Lie down on thy couch, and feign thyself sick; and when thy father cometh to see thee, thou must say unto him, Let, I pray thee, Thamar my sister come, and give me some food, and prepare the refreshment before my eyes, in order that I may see it, and eat it out of her hand.


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So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, Let, I pray thee, Thamar my sister come, and mix up before my eyes a couple of cakes, that I may enjoy them out of her hand.


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Then did David send home to Thamar, saying, Do go now to thy brother Amnons house, and prepare for him the refreshment.


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So Thamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, and he was lying down; and she took the dough and kneaded, and mixed it up before his eyes, and baked the cakes;


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And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat; and Amnon said, Cause every man to go out from me; and they went out, every man, from him.


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And Amnon said to Thamar, Bring the refreshment into the chamber, that I may enjoy it out of thy hand. So Thamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them unto Amnon her brother into the chamber.


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And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister.


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But she said to him, No, my brother, do not violate me; for such a deed ought not to be done in Israel; do not this scandalous act!


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And I, whither should I carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wouldst be like one of the worthless in Israel; but now, O speak, I pray thee, unto the king, for he will not withhold me from thee.


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Nevertheless, he would not hearken unto her voice; but he overpowered her, and violated her, and lay with her.


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Then did Amnon hate her with a very great hatred; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her; and Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.


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And she said unto him, <i>Do</i> not add this yet greater wrong than the other which thou hast done with me, to send me <i>now</i> away! But he would not listen to her;


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And he called his young man, his servant, and said, Do send this woman away from me, into the street, and lock the door behind her.


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And she had on a garment of divers colors; for thus were usually appareled the kings daughters when virgins, in robes; and his servant brought her out into the street, and locked the door behind her.


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And Thamar put ashes on her head, and the garment of divers colors which was on her she rent: and she placed her hand on her head, and went away and cried as she went along.


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Then said to her Abshalom her brother, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now, my sister, keep silence, he is thy brother, take this thing not to thy heart. So Thamar remained, and was secluded in the house of Abshalom her brother.


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And Abshalom spoke not with Amnon either bad or good; for Abshalom hated Amnon, because he had violated Thamar his sister.


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And it came to pass after two full years, that Abshalom had sheepshearers at Baalchazor, which is near Ephraim; and Abshalom invited all the kings sons.


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And Abshalom came to the king, and said, Behold, now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.


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And the king said to Abshalom, No, my son, do not let us all go now, that we may not be a burden upon thee. And he urged him much, but he would not go, and he blessed him.


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And Abshalom said, If not, let, I pray thee, Amnon my brother go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?


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Now Abshalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye, I pray you, when Annons heart is merry with wine, and I say unto you, Smite Amnon: then kill him, fear not; behold, it is I who command it you; be firm and show yourselves men of valor.


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And the servants of Abshalom did unto Amnon as Abshalom had commanded. Then arose all the kings sons, and they rode off, every man on his mule, and fled.


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And it happened, while they were on the way, that the report came to David, saying, Abshalom hath smitten all the kings sons, and there is not one of them left.


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Then arose the king and rent his garments, and laid himself on the earth: and all his servants were standing by with their garments rent.


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But Yonadab the son of Shimah, Davids brother, commenced and said, Let not my Lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the kings sons; since Amnon alone is dead; for by the command of Abshalom was this ordained from the day that he violated Thamar his sister.


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And now let not my Lord the king take the thing to his heart, thinking, that all the kings sons are dead; for Amnon alone is dead.


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And Abshalom flew away. And the young man that was watching lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, many people were coming by the way behind him, by the side of the mount.


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And Yonadab said to the king, The kings sons are come: according to the word of thy servant, so hath it come to pass.


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And it happened, as he had just finished speaking, that, behold, the kings sons came, and they lifted up their voice and wept; and also the king and all his servants wept very much.


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But Abshalom had fled; and he went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur: and <i>David</i> mourned for his son all the time.


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And <i>the soul of</i> king David longed to go forth unto Abshalom; for he was comforted concerning Amnon, that he was dead.


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And when now Joab the son of Zeruyah perceived that the heart of the king was <i>turned</i> toward Abshalom:


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Then sent Joab to Tekoa, and he fetched thence a wise woman, and said to her, Feign. I pray thee, as though thou mournest, and do put on mourning garments, and anoint thyself not with oil; but be as a woman that hath these many days been mourning for the dead.


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And thou must come to the king and speak with him after these words: and Joab put the words into her mouth.


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And the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, and fell on her face to the ground, and bowed herself, and said, Help, O king!


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And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she said, Truly, I am a widowwoman; since my husband is dead.


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And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two quarreled together in the field, and there was no one between them to help <i>either</i>; so the one smote the other, and slew him.


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And, behold, the whole family is risen up against thy handmaid, and they said, Give up the slayer of his brother, that we may have him put to death, for the life of his brother whom he hath killed; and we will destroy also the heir: and thus they will quench my coal which is remaining, so as not to allow to my husband either name or remainder upon the face of the earth.


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And the king said unto the woman, Go to thy house, and I will issue <i>my</i> charge concerning thee.


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Then said the woman of Tekoa unto the king, On me, my Lord, O king, be the iniquity, and on my fathers house: and may the king and his throne be guiltless.


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And the king said, Whosoever speaketh aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.


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Then said she, Let the king, I pray thee, remember the Lord thy God, so as not to suffer the avenger of the blood to cause yet more destruction, and that they may not destroy my son. And he said, As the Lord liveth, there shall not fall one hair of thy son to the earth.


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Then said the woman, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak unto my Lord the king one word. And he said, Speak on.


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And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? and since the king doth speak this thing, he is as a guilty man, if the king do not permit his banished one to return home.


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For we must needs die, and are as water which is spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; and yet doth God not take away life; and he deviseth thoughts, so that the banished one may not remain banished from him.


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And now that I am come to speak unto my Lord the king of this thing, <i>happened</i> because the people made me afraid; and therefore thy handmaid said, I will still speak unto the king; perhaps the king may act <i>in accordance with</i> the word of his handmaid.


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For the king may hear <i>me</i>, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man <i>that desireth</i> to exterminate me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.


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And thy handmaid said, May the word of my Lord the king now become <i>the means of giving</i> repose; for as an angel of God, so is my Lord the king to comprehend the good and the bad: and may the Lord thy God be with thee.


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Then answered the king and said unto the woman, Conceal not, I pray thee, from me a word concerning what I am going to ask thee. And the woman said, Let my Lord the king but speak.


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And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my Lord, O king! none can turn to the right or to the left from all that my Lord the king hath spoken; for it was thy servant Joab who hath bidden me, and it was he that hath put in the mouth of thy handmaid all these words.


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In order to change the appearance of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my Lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is <i>done</i> on the earth.


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And the king said unto Joab, Behold, now, thou hast done this thing: go then, bring back the young man Abshalom.


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And Joab fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself, and blessed the king: and Joab said, Today is thy servant convinced that I have found grace in thy eyes, my Lord, O king; since the king hath acted in accordance with the word of thy servant.


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And the king said, Let him repair to his own house, but my face he shall not see. So Abshalom repaired to his own house, but the kings face he did not see.


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And like Abshalom there was no man as handsome in all Israel, so that he was greatly praised: from the sole of his foot up to the crown of his head there was no blemish on him.


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And when he shaved off <i>the hair of</i> his head <i>and it was at the end of every year that he shaved it off; because it was too heavy on him, so that he had to shave it off:</i> he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels by the kings weight.


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And there was born unto Abshalom three sons and one daughter, whose name was Thamar: this one was a woman of handsome appearance.


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Abshalom sent out therefore for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again the second time; but he would not come.


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He thereupon said unto his servants, See, Joabs field is alongside of mine, and he hath barley there: go and set it on fire. And Abshaloms servants set the field on fire.


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Then did Joab arise, and he went to Abshalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set the field belonging to me on fire?


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And Abshalom said to Joab, Behold, I had sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it would be better for me were I yet there: and now let me see the kings face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him put me to death.


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So Joab went to the king, and told it to him: and he called for Abshalom, who came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Abshalom.


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And it came to pass after this, that Abshalom provided for himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men who ran before him.


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And Abshalom rose up early, and stood on the side of the way to the gate: and it happened, that whenever a man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, Abshalom called to him, and said, From what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.


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And Abshalom said unto him, See, thy words are good and right; but no one listeneth to thee on the part of the king.


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And Abshalom said, Oh, if there were but one to appoint me judge in the land, so that every man who may have any controversy or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!


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And it happened, that when a man came nigh to bow down to him, he used to put forth his hand, and laid hold of him, and kissed him.


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And Abshalom did after this manner to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: and thus did Abshalom steal the heart of the men of Israel.


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And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Abshalom said unto the king, Let me go, I pray thee, and fulfill my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, at Hebron.


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For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord will ever bring me back again to Jerusalem, then will I serve the Lord.


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But Abshalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the cornet, then shall ye say, Abshalom is become king at Hebron.


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And with Abshalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and going in their simplicity; and they knew of nothing whatever.


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And Abshalom sent for Achithophel the Gilomite, Davids counsellor, from his city, from Giloh, while he offered the sacrifices. And the conspiracy became strong; and the people increased continually with Abshalom.


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And there came a newsbearer to David, saying, the heart of the men of Israel is turned after Abshalom.


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And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for there will not <i>else</i> be any escape for us from Abshalom: make haste, to depart, lest he make haste and overtake us suddenly and overwhelm us with evil, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.


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And the kings servants said unto the king, In accordance with all that my Lord the king may choose, are thy servants ready.


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And the king went forth, and all his household in his train. And the king left behind ten women, who were concubines, to guard the house.


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And all his servants passed on alongside of him, and all the Kerethites, and all the Pelethites; and all the Gittites, six hundred men, who were come in his train from Gath, passed on before the king.


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Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore wilt thou also go with us? turn back and abide with the king; for thou art a stranger, and also an exile from thy place.


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Yesterday thou camest; and today should I move thee about with us to wander? seeing that I go whither I may: return thou, and take back thy brethren with thee, in kindness and truth.


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And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my Lord the king liveth, surely in whatever place my Lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, even there will thy servant be.


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And David said then to Ittai, Go and pass on. And Ittai the Gittite passed on, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.


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And all the <i>people of the</i> country wept with a loud voice, as all the people passed on: and the king passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, along the way to the wilderness.


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And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, were bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Ebyathar went up, until all the people had finished passing out of the city.


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And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city; if I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back again, and show me both it, and his dwelling;


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But if he should thus say, I have no delight in thee: here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good in his eyes.


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The king said also unto Zadok the priest, If thou see the justice of this, return to the city in peace: and your two sons, Achimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Ebyathar, are with you.


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And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, weeping as he went up, and had his head covered, and he was walking barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.


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And some one told David, saying, Achithophel is among the conspirators with Abshalom. And David said, I pray thee, turn into foolishness the counsel of Achithophel, O Lord!


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And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top, where he used to bow himself down to God, behold, Chushai the Arkite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.


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But if thou shouldst return to the city, and say unto Abshalom, Thy servant will I be, O king; thy fathers servant have I been this long time past, and now will I also be thy servant: then mightest thou defeat for me the counsel of Achithophel.


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And, behold, thou hast with thee there Zadok and Ebyathar the priests; therefore shall it be, that what thing soever thou mayest hear out of the kings house, shalt thou tell to Zadok and Ebyathar the priests.


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Behold, they have there with them their two sons. Achimaaz for Zadok, and Jonathan for Ebyathar: and ye shall send by means of them unto me whatever thing ye can hear.


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So Chushai, Davids friend, came into the city, as Abshalom had just resolved to enter into Jerusalem.


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And when David was passed a little beyond the top <i>of the mount</i>, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came toward him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred <i>cakes</i> of dried figs, and a bottle of wine.


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And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou with these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the kings household to ride on; and the bread and the dried figs for the young men to eat; and the wine to drink for such as may be faint in the wilderness.


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And the king said, And where is thy masters son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he remaineth at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore unto me the kingdom of my father.


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Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine shall be all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I prostrate myself; let me but find grace in thy eyes, my Lord, O king.


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And when King David came as far as Bachurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimi, the son of Gera, coming forth, and cursing.


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And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right and on his left.


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The Lord hath brought back upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou didst reign; and the Lord hath placed the kingdom into the hand of Abshalom thy son; and, behold, thou art now in thy misfortune, because a man of blood art thou.


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Then said Abishai the son of Zeruyah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and remove his head.


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And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruyah? so let him curse; because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?


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And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who hath come forth out of my own body, seeketh my life: how much more now this Benjamite? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath said it to him.


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Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction, and the Lord will requite me good instead of his cursing this day.


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And David and his men went <i>thus</i> on the way. And Shimi went on the side of the mount opposite to him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones toward him, and cast dust.


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And Abshalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Achithophel <i>also</i> with him.


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And it came to pass, when Chushai the Arkite, Davids friend, was come unto Abshalom, that Chushai said unto Abshalom, Long live the king! Long live the king!


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And Abshalom said to Chushai, Is this thy kindness for thy friend? why art thou not gone with thy friend?


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And Chushai said unto Abshalom, No; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I remain.


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And secondly, who is it whom I shall serve? is it not in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy fathers presence, so will I be in thy presence.


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And Achithophel said unto Abshalom, Go in unto thy fathers concubines, whom he hath left to guard the house; and all Israel will hear that thou art in bad odor with thy father: and then will the hands of all that are with thee become strong.


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So they spread for Abshalom a tent upon the roof; and Abshalom went in unto his fathers concubines before the eyes of all Israel.


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And the counsel of Achithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had asked advice of the word of God: so was all the counsel of Achithophel both with David and with Abshalom.


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Moreover Achithophel said unto Abshalom, Do let me now select twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night;


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And I will come upon him while he is weary and weakhanded, and will terrify him; so that all the people that are with him will flee; and I will smite the king alone;


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And I will bring back all the people unto thee: when all return <i>except</i> the man whom thou seekest, all the people will be in peace.


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Then said Abshalom, Do call now also Chushai the Arkite, and let us hear what he likewise beareth in his mouth.


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And when Chushai was come to Abshalom, Abshalom said unto him, as followeth, Such words as these hath Achithophel spoken: shall we do after his words? if not, do thou speak.


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And Chushai said, Thou well knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and are of an embittered spirit, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is also a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.


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Behold, he is now hidden in some one of the pits, or in some one of the <i>other</i> places: and it will come to pass, when some of them should fall at the first onset, that whosoever heareth it would say, There hath been slaughter among the people that follow Abshalom.


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And he also that is most valiant, whose heart is as the heart of the lion, would become quite discouraged; for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they who are with him are valiant persons.


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But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea in multitude: while thou in thy own person goest into the fight.


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And when we come upon him in some one of the places where he may be found, we will encamp around him as the dew falleth on the earth: and there shall not be left of him and of all the men that are with him so much as one.


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And if he should withdraw into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the stream, until there be not found there even one small stone.


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And Abshalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Chushai the Arkite is better than the counsel of Achithophel. But the Lord had ordained to frustrate the good counsel of Achithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring the evil upon Abshalom.


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Then said Chushai unto Zadok and to Ebyathar the priests, Thus and thus did Achithophel counsel Abshalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.


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Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but rather pass over at once; lest the king be entirely ruined, and all the people that are with him.


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Now Jonathan and Achimaaz were staying by Enrogel; and a maidservant had to go and tell them, that they should go and tell king David; for they dared not be seen to come into the city.


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Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told it to Abshalom; but they went, both of them, quickly away, and came to the house of a man in Bachurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down thither.


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And the wife took and spread a covering over the wells mouth, and scattered ground corn thereupon; so that nothing was perceived.


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And Abshaloms servants came to the woman into the house, and they said, Where are Achimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are passed over the brook of water. And they sought, but could not find them; and they returned to Jerusalem.


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And it came to pass, after they were gone, that they came up out of the well, and went and told it to king David, and they said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Achithophel counseled against you.


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Then did David arise, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the time the morning was light, not even one was lacking who had not passed over the Jordan.


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And when Achithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled the ass, and arose, and went home to his house, to his city, and gave his charge to his household, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.


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Then came David to Machanayim: and Abshalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.


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And Abshalom placed Amassa instead of Joab as captain over the army: and Amassa was the son of a man, whose name was Yithra the Israelite, who had gone in to Abigal the daughter of Nachash, the sister of Zeruyah Joabs mother.


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And it came to pass, when David was come to Machanayim, that Shobi the son of Nachash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Giladite of Rogelim,


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Brought beds, and bowls, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentils, and parched pulse,


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And honey, and cream, and sheep, and cows cheese, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat; for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.


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And David numbered the people that were with him, and he set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds.


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And David sent forth the people a third part under the command of Joab, and a third part under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruyah, Joabs brother, and a third part under the command of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I myself also will without fail go forth with you.


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But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth; for if we should have to flee away, they will not care for us; and if half of us die, they will not care for us; for now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou shouldst be a succor to us out of the city.


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And the king said unto them, What seemeth good in your eyes will I do. And the king placed himself by the side of the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.


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And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Abshalom. And all the people heard when the king charged all the captains with respect to Abshalom.


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So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.


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And the people of Israel were smitten there before Davids servants, and the slaughter was great there on that daytwenty thousand men.


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And the battle became extended there over the face of all the country: and the forest devoured yet more of the people than the sword had devoured on that day.


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And Abshalom happened to come before the servants of David. And Abshalom was riding upon a mule, and the mule came under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was left hanging between the heaven and the earth: and the mule that was under him passed on.


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And a certain man saw, and told it to Joab, and said, Behold, I have seen Abshalom hanging on an oak.


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And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him: why then didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and it would have been obligatory on me to give thee ten shekels of silver and a girdle.


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And the man said unto Joab, And though I should weigh on my hands a thousand shekels of silver, I would not stretch forth my hand against the kings son; for before our ears did the king charge thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Take heed, whoever it be, of the young man, of Abshalom.


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Or should I even have acted with falsehood against my own life, since there is no matter which can be hidden from the king; thou wouldst surely have placed thyself aloof.


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Then said Joab, I will not wait thus before thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Abshalom, who was yet alive in the midst of the oak.


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And Joab blew the cornet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab restrained the people.


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And they took Abshalom, and cast him down in the forest, into the large pit, and erected upon him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled, every one, to his tents.


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Now Abshalom had taken and reared up for himself in his lifetime, the pillar, which is in the kings dale; for he said, I have no son, so as to keep my name in remembrance; and he called the pillar after his own name: and it was called Abshaloms monument, even until this day.


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And Achimaaz the son of Zadok said, Do let me run, I pray thee, and bear the king tidings, that the Lord hath done him justice from the power of his enemies.


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And Joab said unto him, Thou art not the man to bear <i>good</i> tidings this day, and thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the kings son is dead.


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Then said Joab to the Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen, And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.


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Then said Achimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, Be it as it may, let me, I pray thee, run also after the Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore is it that thou wilt run, my son, seeing that thou hast no profitable tidings?


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But be it as it may, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. And Achimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and passed the Cushi.


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And David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, upon the wall, and as he lifted up his eyes, he saw, and behold, a man was running alone.


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And the watchman cried, and told it to the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there are tidings in his mouth. And he came nearer and nearer continually.


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And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the gatekeeper, and said, Behold, here is a man running alone. And the king said, Also this one bringeth tidings.


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And the watchman said, I regard the running of the foremost as the running of Achimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, That is a good man, and with good tidings must he come.


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And Achimaaz called, and said unto the king, Peace. And he prostrated himself to the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath surrendered the men that had lifted up their hand against my Lord the king.


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And the king said, Is the young man Abshalom safe? And Achimaaz answered, I saw the greatest crowd when Joab sent off the kings servant, and thy servant; but I know not what hath happened.


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And, behold, the Cushi came <i>next</i>; and the Cushi said, Let my lord the king receive the tidings, that the Lord hath done thee justice this day from the power of all those that had risen up against thee.


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And the king said unto the Cushi, Is the young man Abshalom safe? And the Cushi answered, May like the young man be the enemies of my Lord the king, and all that have risen up against thee for evil.


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<n>(19:1)</n> And the king was much moved, and he went up to the upper chamber of the gate, and wept: and thus he said as he went, O my son Abshalom, my son, my son Abshalom! who would grant that I had died in thy stead, O Abshalom, my son, my son!


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<n>(19:3)</n> And the victory on that day was turned into mourning unto all the people; for the people heard it said on that day, that the king was grieved for his son.


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<n>(19:4)</n> And the people repaired by stealth on that day when coming into the city, as usually steal away the people who are ashamed when they flee in battle.


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<n>(19:5)</n> But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Abshalom, O Abshalom, my son, my son!


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<n>(19:6)</n> And Joab came to the king, into the house, and said, Thou hast covered with shame this day the faces of all thy servants, who have saved thy life this day, and the life of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the life of thy wives, and the life of thy concubines;


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<n>(19:7)</n> Since thou lovest thy enemies, and hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared this day, that thou hast neither princes nor servants; for I perceive this day, that if Abshalom were but alive, and we all were dead this day, that then it would have been just right in thy eyes.


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<n>(19:8)</n> And now arise, go forth, and speak to the heart of thy servants; for by the Lord have I sworn, that if thou go not forth, there shall not remain one man with thee this night: and this would be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now.


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<n>(19:9)</n> Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told it unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate. And all the people came before the king; but Israel fled, every man to his tents.


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<n>(19:10)</n> And all the people were contending throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king hath saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he it was that hath delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from before Abshalom.


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<n>(19:11)</n> And Abshalom, whom we had anointed over us, died in battle: and now why are ye silent about bringing the king back?


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<n>(19:12)</n> And king David sent to Zadok and to Ebyathar the priests, saying, Speak ye unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why will you be the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is already come to the king, to his house.


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<n>(19:13)</n> My brothers are ye, my bone and my flesh are ye: wherefore then will you be the last to bring back the king?


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<n>(19:14)</n> And to Amassa shall ye say, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and may he thus continue to do, if thou shalt not be captain of the army before me continually in the room of Joab.


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<n>(19:15)</n> And he turned the heart of all the men of Judah, as of one man: and these sent unto the king, Return thou, with all thy servants.


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<n>(19:16)</n> So the king returned, and came as far as the Jordan; and Judah came to Gilgal, to go forth to meet the king, to conduct the king over the Jordan.


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<n>(19:17)</n> Then hastened Shimi the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bachurim, and went down with the men of Judah to meet king David.


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<n>(19:18)</n> And there were with him a thousand men of Benjamin, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they set hastily over the Jordan before the king.


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<n>(19:19)</n> And there went over the ferryboat to carry over the kings household, and to do what was good in his eyes. And Shimi the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was passing over the Jordan;


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<n>(19:20)</n> And he said unto the king, Let not my Lord impute it unto me as iniquity, neither do thou remember that in which thy servant acted perversely on the day that my Lord the king went forth out of Jerusalem, so that the king should lay it to his heart.


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<n>(19:21)</n> For thy servant doth know that I have indeed sinned; and, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my Lord the king.


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<n>(19:22)</n> But Abishai the son of Zeruyah spoke out and said, Shall Shimi for this not be put to death, because he cursed the Lords anointed?


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<n>(19:23)</n> And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruyah, that ye should become a hindrance this day unto me? shall this day any man be put to death in Israel? for do I not know that this day I am king over Israel?


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<n>(19:25)</n> And Mephibosheth the <i>grand</i> son of Saul came down to meet the king, and he had not dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day that the king departed until the day that he came home in peace.


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<n>(19:26)</n> And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?


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<n>(19:27)</n> And he answered, My Lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for thy servant said, I will saddle for me the ass, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because thy servant is lame.


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<n>(19:28)</n> And he slandered thy servant unto my Lord the king; but my Lord the king is like an angel of God: do then what is good in thy eyes.


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<n>(19:29)</n> For all of my fathers house were nothing but men deserving death with my Lord the king: and yet didst thou set thy servant among those that eat at thy own table. What other merit therefore have I, and what to complain of yet farther unto the king?


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<n>(19:30)</n> And the king said unto him, For what purpose speakest thou yet thy words? I have said, Thou and Ziba shall divide the field.


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<n>(19:31)</n> And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take the whole, since that my Lord the king is come <i>back</i> in peace unto his own house.


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<n>(19:32)</n> And Barzillai the Giladite came down from Rogelim; and he passed over the Jordan with the king, to accompany him over the Jordan.


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<n>(19:33)</n> Now Barzillai was very aged, eighty years old: and he had sustained the king while he lay at Machanayim; for he was a very great man.


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<n>(19:34)</n> And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will sustain thee near me in Jerusalem.


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<n>(19:35)</n> But Barzillai said unto the king, How many yet are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?


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<n>(19:36)</n> I am eighty years old this day: can I discern between good and evil? or can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? or can I listen yet to the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant become yet a burden unto my Lord the king?


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<n>(19:37)</n> Thy servant will pass a little way over the Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense me with this reward?


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<n>(19:38)</n> Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the sepulchre of my father and of my mother. But, behold, thy servant Kimham will pass over with my Lord the king; and do to him what is good in thy eyes.


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<n>(19:39)</n> And the king said, Kimham shall pass over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good in thy eyes: and whatsoever thou wilt desire of me, will I do for thee.


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<n>(19:40)</n> And all the people passed over the Jordan, after the king had passed over; and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.


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<n>(19:41)</n> Then did the king pass on to Gilgal, and Kimham passed on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.


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<n>(19:42)</n> And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have conducted the king and his household over the Jordan, and all Davids men with him?


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<n>(19:43)</n> And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then are ye so angry for this matter? have we eaten the least from the king? or hath he given us any gift?


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<n>(19:44)</n> And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, Ten parts have we in the king, and also in David have we more right than ye: why then did ye esteem us lightly? and was not our word the very first to bring back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.


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And there happened to be a worthless man, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the cornet, and said, We have no part in David, nor have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel!


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So every man of Israel went off from David, following Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah adhered unto their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.


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And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women, the concubines, whom he had left to guard the house, and put them in a guardhouse, and provided for them, but went not in unto them. So they were confined until the day of their death, living in widowhood.


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Then said the king to Amassa, Call together for me the men of Judah within three days, and thou present thyself here <i>then</i>.


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So Amassa went to call Judah together; but he remained out longer than the set time which he had appointed him.


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And David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than <i>did</i> Abshalom: take thou the servants of thy Lord, and pursue after him, lest he succeed in reaching fortified cities, and withdraw himself from our eyes.


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And there went out after him Joabs men, and the Kerethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went forth out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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They were close by the great stone which is at Gibon, as Amassa came before them. And Joab was girded with his coat, his <i>usual</i> garment, and upon it the girdle of the sword which was fastened upon his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out.


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And Joab said to Amassa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joabs right hand took hold of Amassas beard to kiss him.


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And Amassa did not guard himself against the sword that was in Joabs hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. But Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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And one man of Joabs people remained standing by him, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, follow Joab.


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And Amassa was wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he put Amassa aside out of the highway into the field, and threw a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.


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When he was removed out of the highway, every man passed on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.


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And this one passed through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, which is of Bethmaachah, and all the Berim: and they assembled themselves together, and went also after him.


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And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a trench against the city, and it stood enclosed by the troops: and all the people that were with Joab were battering to throw down the wall.


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Then called a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear: say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near as far as hither, that I may speak with thee.


