Gibeah burnt.

JUDGES.

The desolation of Benjamin. ' thousand and an hundred men: all these and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; drew the sword. 3 And said, O LORD God of Israel, why

36 So the children of Benjamin saw that is this come to pass in Israel, that there they were smitten: for the men of Israel should be to-day one tribe lacking in Isgave place to the Benjamites, because they rael? trusted unto the liers in wait which they 4 And it came to pass on the morrow, had set beside Gibeah. that the people rose early, and built there an 37 And the liers in wait hasted, and altar, and offered burnt-offerings, and peacerushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait offerings. drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that 38 Now there was an appointed sign be- came not up with the congregation unto tween the men of Israel and the liers in the LORD? For they had made a great wait, that they should make a great flame oath concerning him that come not up to with smoke to rise up out of the city. the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall

39 And when the men of Israel retired in surely be put to death. the battle, Benjamin began to smite and 6 And the children of Israel repented kill of the men of Israel about thirty per- them for Benjamin their brother, and said, sons for they said, Surely they are smit- There is one tribe cut off from Israel this ten down before us, as in the first battle. day.

40 But when the flame began to arise 7 How shall we do for wives for them up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, that remain, seeing we have sworn by the the Benjamites looked behind them, and LORD, that we will not give them of our behold, the flame of the city ascended up daughters to wives?

to heaven.

8¶ And they said, What one is there of 41 And when the men of Israel turned the tribes of Israel that came not up to again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: Mizpeh to the LORD? and behold, there for they saw that evil was come upon them. came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead 42 Therefore they turned their backs be- to the assembly.

fore the men of Israel unto the way of the 9 For the people were numbered, and wilderness; but the battle overtook them; behold there were none of the inhabitants and them which came out of the cities they of Jabesh-gilead there. destroyed in the midst of them.

10 And the congregation sent thither

43 Thus they inclosed the Benjamites twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and round about, and chased them, and trode commanded them, saying, Go and smite the them down with ease over against Gibeah inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge toward the sun-rising. of the sword, with the women and the chil

44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen dren. thousand men; all these were men of valour.

11 And this is the thing that ye shall do. Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and 45 And they turned and fled toward the every woman that hath lain by man. wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon and 12 And they found among the inhabitthey gleaned of them in the highways five ants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young thousand men; and pursued hard after virgins that had known no man by lying them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land

men of them.

46 So that all which fell that day of of Canaan. Benjamin were twenty and five thousand

13 And the whole congregation sent men that drew the sword; all these were some to speak to the children of Benjamin men of valour. that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, 14 And Benjamin came again at that and abode in the rock Rimmon four time; and they gave them wives which months. they had saved alive of the women of Ja48 And the men of Israel turned again besh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them upon the children of Benjamin, and smote not. them with the edge of the sword, as well 15 And the people repented them for the men of every city, as the beast, and all Benjamin, because that the LORD had made that came to hand: also they set on fire all a breach in the tribes of Israel. the cities that they came to.

16 Then the elders of the congregaCHAP. XXI. tion said, How shall we do for wives for [OW the men of Israel had sworn in them that remain, seeing the women are Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any destroyed out of Benjamin?

No

of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to 17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Ben

wife.

2 And the people came to the house of jamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of God, and abode there till even before God, Israel.

The virgins of Shiloh surprised.

RUTH.

Ruth's constancy to Boaz. 18 Howbeit, we may not give them wives their brethren come unto us to complain, of our daughters: for the children of Israel that we will say unto them, Be favourable have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth unto them for our sakes: because we rea wife to Benjamin. served not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.

19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go, and lie in wait in the vineyards;

23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

24 And the children of Israel departed 21 And see, and behold, if the daugh- thence at that time, every man to his ters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, tribe and to his family, and they went then come ye out of the vineyards, and out from thence every man to his inheritcatch you every man his wife of the ance. daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of 25 In those days there was no king in Benjamin. Israel: every man did that which was right 22 And it shall be, when their fathers or in his own eyes.

there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to-night, and should also bear sons;

2 And the name of the man was Elime- 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were lech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and grown? would ye stay for them from having the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chili- husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grievon, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And eth me much for your sakes, that the hand they came into the country of Moab, and of the LORD is gone out against me. continued there.

3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-inlaw is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in

4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. law. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

6 Then she arose with her daughtersin-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there his people in giving them bread. will I be buried; the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and

7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daugh- me. ters-in-law with her; and they went on the 18 When she saw that she was steadfastly way to return unto the land of Judah. minded to go with her, then she left speak8 And Naomi said unto her two daugh- ing unto her.

ters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother's 19 ¶ So they two went until they came house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find city was moved about them, and they said, rest, each of you in the house of her hus- Is this Naomi ?

band. Then she kissed them; and they 20 And she said unto them, Call me not lifted up their voice, and wept. Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty 10 And they said unto her, Surely we hath dealt very bitterly with me. will return with thee unto thy people. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my brought me home again empty: why then daughters: why will ye go with me? are call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath

Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz. testified against me, and the Almighty hath friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be afflicted me? not like unto one of thine handmaidens.

RUTH. The kindness of Boaz to Ruth.

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the 14 And Boaz said unto her, At meal-time Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and which returned out of the country of Moab: dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she and they came to Beth-lehem in the begin- sat beside the reapers: and he reached her ning of barley-harvest. parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufCHAP. II. ficed, and left.

AND Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:

16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my 17 So she gleaned in the field until even, daughter. and beat out that she had gleaned and it 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned was about an ephah of barley. in the field after the reapers: and her hap 18¶ And she took it up, and went into was to light on a part of the field belonging the city: and her mother-in-law saw what unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Eli- she had gleaned and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she

melech.

4 ¶ And behold, Boaz came from Beth- was sufficed. lehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD 19 And her mother-in-law said unto her, be with you. And they answered him, The Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and LORD bless thee. where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that did take knowledge of thee. And she was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?

6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:

shewed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.

20 And Naomi said unto her daughterin-law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The and gather after the reapers among the man is near of kin unto us, one of our next sheaves: so she came, and hath continued kinsmen. even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.

8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:

9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.

22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.

23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley-harvest and of wheat-harvest; and dwelt with her mother-in-law.

CHAP. III.

10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, THEN Naomi her mother-in-law said Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that unto her, My daughter, shall I not thou shouldest take knowledge of me, see-seek rest for thee, that it may be well with ing I am a stranger? thee?

11 And Boaz answered and said unto 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing the death of thine husband: and how thou floor.

hast left thy father and thy mother, and the 3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint land of thy nativity, and art come unto a thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and people which thou knewest not heretofore. get thee down to the floor: but make not 12 The LORD recompense thy work, and thyself known unto the man, until he shall a full reward be given thee of the LORD have done eating and drinking. God of Israel, under whose wings thou art

come to trust.

13 Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken

4 And it shall be when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

Naomi's instruction to her.

CHAP. IV.

Boaz marries Ruth. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou | Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was sayest unto me I will do. our brother Elimelech's: 6¶ And she went down unto the floor, and 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saydid according to all that her mother-in-law ing, Buy it before the inhabitants, and bebade her. fore the elders of my people. If thou wilt

7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not and his heart was merry, he went to lie redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: down at the end of the heap of corn: and for there is none to redeem it beside thee; she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and and I am after thee. And he said, I will laid her down. redeem it.

8 And it came to pass at midnight, that 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buythe man was afraid, and turned himself: and est the field of the hand of Naomi, thou behold, a woman lay at his feet. must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she wife of the dead, to raise up the name of answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: the dead upon his inheritance. spread therefore thy skirt over thine hand- 6 ¶ And the kinsman said, I cannot remaid; for thou art a near kinsman. deem it for myself, lest I mar mine own 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyLORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed self; for I cannot redeem it. more kindness in the latter end than at the 7 Now this was the manner in former beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not time in Israel concerning redeeming and young men, whether poor or rich. concerning changing, for to confirm all 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I things; a man plucked off his shoe, and will do to thee all that thou requirest: for gave it to his neighbour: and this was a all the city of my people doth know that testimony in Israel. thou art a virtuous woman.

12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9¶ And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the day, that I have bought all that was Elimemorning, that if he will perform unto thee lech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahthe part of a kinsman, well; let him do the lon's, of the hand of Naomi. kinsman's part: but if he will not do the 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.

14 And she lay at his feet until the morning and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.

15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-inlaw, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.

17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.

18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

CHAP. IV.

THEN went up, to
HEN went Boaz up to the gate, and

wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders said, We are witnesses, The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah and be famous in Beth-lehem:

12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left than this famous in Israel. thee this day without a kinsman, that his

kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.

2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.

3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of

age: for thy daughter-in-law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to

Samuel is born. 20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,

Elkanah and his two wives. I. SAMUEL. Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,

19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,

21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

The First Book of SAMUEL, otherwise called, The First Book of the KINGS.

CHAP. I.

thou be drunken? put away thy wine from

TOW there was a certain man of Ra-thee. mathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Je- my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful roham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

4 ¶ And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah; but the LORD had shut up her womb.

16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

19¶ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the LORD had shut up her womb.

7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his 8 Then said Elkanah her husband to house, went up to offer unto the LORD the her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why yearly sacrifice, and his vow. eatest thou not? and why is thy heart 22 But Hannah went not up; for she said grieved? am not I better to thee than ten unto her husband, I will not go up until sons? the child be weaned, and then will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

9 ¶ So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk : now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD:

23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry un10 And she was in bitterness of soul, til thou have weaned him; only the LORD and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. establish his word. So the woman abode, 11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O and gave her son suck until she weaned LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on him.

the affliction of thine handmaid, and re- 24 ¶ And when she had weaned him, sho member me, and not forget thine handmaid, took him up with her, with three bullocks, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of child, then I will give him unto the LORD all wine, and brought him unto the house of the days of his life, and there shall no razor the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was come upon his head.

young.

12 ¶ And it came to pass, as she con- 25 And they slew a bullock, and brought tinued praying before the LORD, that Eli the child to Eli.

marked her mouth.

26 And she said, O my lord, as thy soul 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood only her lips moved, but her voice was not by thee here, praying unto the LORD. heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt

27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which asked of him: