Goliath's challenge.

David accept ilk it.

•tvcighedivx. hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out-to set your battle in array? am not I a Phililtine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, aud serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

j i When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

12 ^ Now David ivas the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name ivas Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among menhir an old man in the days of Saul.

13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse vent and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle tvere Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14. And David ivas the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

r ? But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's (heep at Bethlehem.

16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, ivere in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, ana took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to th* nght, and (homed for the battle.

xi For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.

22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

13 Andashetalked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Phi

listine of Gatli, Goliath byname, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the fame words: and David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. .

15 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel i« he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What (hall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine; and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumciled Philistine, that he (hould defy the armies of the living God r

27 And the people answered him after this manner, laying, So (hall it be done to the man that killeth him.

28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he (pake unto the men 5 and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why earnest thou down hither ? and with whom haft thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest fee the battle.

29 And David said, What have I navr done? Is there not a cause?

30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake aster the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; th* servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's (heep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took-a lamb out of the flock:

35 And 1 went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and"when he arose against mtf, J caught him by his beard, and smote him, and (lew him.

36 Thy servant stew both the lion and the bear: and this vtneircumcised Philistine (hall be as one of them, sceinct he

hath

DesiJ without armour

stayeth Cthalh.

hatb dded the armies of the living God. j' David laid moreover, The Lo R r> that delivered me out of the paw of the hon, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philiftine. And Saul said unto David, Go,ind the Loin be with thee.

;Sf And Saul armed David with his amour, and he put an helmet of brass *pon his head; also he armed him with aast of mail.

;j And David girded his sword upon Hi armour, and he assayed to go j for x had not proved it. And David said wo Saul, I cannot go with these; for I fcave not proved them. And David put taem off him.

40 And he took his staff in his hand, «ral chose him five smooth stones out of tie brook, and put them in a stiepherd's tag which he had, even in a scrip; and his fling was in his hand: and he drew near to [he Philistine.

4' And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that hire the shield ivent before him.

4» And when the Philistine looked ^ut, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of»fair countenance.

♦3 And the Philistine said unto David, fe I a dog, that thou comclt to me with "tares? And the Philistine cursed David tf his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh wto the fowls of the air, and to the bofe of the field.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and *ith a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name os the Lo R D "f hofts, the God of the armies of Israel, *tx>m thou hast defied.

4< This day will the Lord deliver '"« into mine hand; and I will smite "iee, and take thine head from thee; ind I will give the carr:ises of the host °f the Philistines this d;." ifnto the fowls c- the air, and to the wild beasts of the ^ftit; that all the earth may know that there « a God in Israel. _^47 And all this assembly (hall know *•'« the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, wd he will give you into our hands.

4* And it came to pass, when the Rhi

"Kffie arose, and came and drew nigh to

"^t David, that David hasted, and ran

•"•jth the armv to meet the Philistine.

49 AndDavki put his hand in his bag,

*"4 took thence a Hone, and siang it,

and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone funk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a (ling and with :i Hone, and (inote the Philistine, and slew him; but thtrenvasno sword in the hand of David.

51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his (word, and drew it out of the (heath thereof, and Hew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines law their champion was dead, they (led.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and lhouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines tell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unui Gath, and unto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chafing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

54. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

55 And when Saul law David go forth against the Philistine, he laid unto Ab. ner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth ? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling /'/.

57 And as David returned from the slaughter os the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul (aid to him, Whole ion art thou, thou young man? And David answered, / am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.

C H A P. XVIII. 1 Jonathan lev fth David. $Saulen-virthhit praise, 1 o fiek,'th to till him in his Jury, \tfearcth him for hit good success. 17 He effereth him hit daughter fir a snare.

AN D it came to pass, when he had made an end of (peaking unto Sa«!, that the foul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own foul.

1 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as hrs own soul.

4. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that tvat upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5 V, And David went out whit her so

Saul envieth David.

David merrielh Mielml.

ever Saul sent him, and behaved himself vilely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the frying displayed him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and tuhat can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

■io fl And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other time;: and there 'was a javelin in Saul's hand.

ii And Saul cast the javelin; for lie said, T will smite David even to the wall 'with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 V And Saul was afraid of David, becaule the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a > thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14. Aid David behaved himself wisely in all liis ways; and the Lord 'was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17 f And Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

1? And David slid unto Saul, Who em I ? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I mould be son in law to the king?

19 B ut it came to pass at the time when

Merab Saul's daughter should haveheen given to David, that me was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wise.

Io And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that slie may he a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him! Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou malt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

is And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secrerlv, and fay, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law-.

23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David laid, Seemetb it to you a lijjht thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

24. And the servants of Saul told him, faying, On this manner Ipake David.

25 And Saul said. Thus (hall ye fay to David, The kingdesireth not any dowry, but an hundred forelkins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by tiie hand of the Philistines.

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.

27 Wherefore David arose and went, heand his men,and Hew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their forelkins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lor D <was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

%o Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much sel by.

CHAP. XIX. 1 Jonathan difclifith his father's purpose ft till David. 4 He persuadetk hiijatfiei to reconciliation. 8 Saul's malicious ragt breaketh out attain. 12 Miehal'sstraidgem to save David. • •'

AND Saul spake to Jonathan his son •and to all his servants, that the} mould kill David.

a Bu Mkkal'i firatagtm . Chap,

1 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much iu David : and Jonathan told David, faying, Saul my tithes seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

j And I will go out and stand beside a/fitter in the field where thou art, nidi will commune with my father of taee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

4 f And Jonathan spake good of Davit! unto Saul hi* father, and said unto him, Let not the kins sin against his servait.against David; Decause he hath not fciaeda^ainst thee, and because his works *»< been to thee-ward very good:

J For he did put his life in his hand, and flew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel; thou law ell, it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou fin against innocent, blood, to flay David without a cause?

6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware. As the Lord liveth, he shall not be stain.

;AndJonathan calledDavid,and Jonathan fliewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and t; wis in his presence, as in times past. I U And there was war again: and Divid went out, and fought with the Miliines, and (lew them with a great daughter; and they sled from him.

9 And the evil spirit from the Lord *u u?on Saul, as he fat in his house •^th his javelin in his hand: and David P^yed with his hand.

loAnd Saul sought to smiteDavid even to the wall with the javelin; but he flipped away out of Saul's presence, and he •raote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

ii Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to (lay

• im in the morning: and Michal David's wifetold him, faying, If thou save not ;Jy we to night, to morrow thou (halt «lbm.

'^SoMichallet David down through

* window: and he went, and fled, and "aped.

'1 And Michal took an image, and «d « in the bed, and put a pillow of s«ts'Mrfor his bolster, and covered « with a cloth.

H And, when Saul sent messengers to ^ D«id, (he s^ He is sick.

■S And Saul sent tie messengers again TM « Da,vid, dying, Bring him up to « a the bed, that I may flay him.

. xx. to save David.

16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there ivai an image in the bed with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.

17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Rainah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, shying, Behold, David it at Naioth in Raman.

ao And Saul sent messengers to take David : and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of Goes was upon the messengers of Saul, and they allo prophesied.

21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other mefleni;ers, and they prophesied likewise; AndSaul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

ii Then went he allo to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Sa. muel and David? And on* said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

13 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

i+And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they fay, Is Saul also among the prophets?

CHAP. XX. 1 David consulteth ivith "Jonathan for hit

safety. 11 Their covenant renewed by

oath, e4 Saul missing David,seeketh to

kill Jonathan.

AND David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done ? what;/ mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh ray life?

2 And he said unto him, God forbid j thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will (hew it me: and why fliould my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

3 And David sware moreover, and (aid, Thy father certainlyknoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he faith j Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: byt truly as the Lord livetfi; and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

S - 4 Then